Pretty color, decent structure and balance. My biggest issue: it really does not evoke any sense of cabernet franc. Tasted blind, I suspect I would have emphatically called this out as a Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. Not a compelling value.
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I love Cab Franc, it is probably my favourite grape, but it is difficult to find Cab Franc in this wine. My wife poured her glass down the drain and said it had no fruit and was just watery. I see others have said it needs 24 hours so I kept half a bottle, but I am not hopeful. It tasted very acidic to me and not an especially nice wine. I will revisit this note if it is better on day 2. I accept that it is at the end of its window. I did go back after 24 hours and try this again. It had not improved so I poured it away. I have one bottle left, I hope it is better.
Double blind. Nice fruit- currants and plum- along wit peppery spice. Dark fruit on the palate. Long finish. Nice, but didn't pick this out as a franc.
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At peak or just beyond. Decanted for a little over an hour (and it needed it). Decently expressive nose with cigar box, dusty black fruit and tar. Jammy and full on the palette with red fruit in spades along side tobacco and vanilla to support it. Plenty of tannins and rather round. Pleasant finish with tobacco and black cherry leading the way. 7-17-7-8
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Served with pork chops with a cranberry chutney; medium body, red fruit- currant and raspberries on the nose and palate, modest tannins, medium finish, modest complexity
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Very non-descript. Nice sweet fruit, dark cherry and raspberry, light tannins very well balanced with a nice long finish. Just lacks complexity or the wow factor.
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Upon opening it had little nose and less finish. I was getting ready to say this was a loser. BUT...but, on the second day this bloomed. It is marvelous on the second day. The nose is currants and cherries. The mouth is more delicate and the finish is long and decadent.
Secret: itneeds time to open and possibly more time in the cellar.
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Nice bottle that's drinking surprisingly well here. The body is red fruit dominate in the beginning before saturating on the palate to darker fruit and a little stone. Tannins are easy - popped and poured over four hours - and spices accompany the dark fruit crescendo, mostly black pepper with a game meat warmth that turns a little woody and lingers. Tannins and acidity bring a little mouth flush fifteen seconds into the finish that lingers another 30.
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Deep, dark reddish-purple in color; almost opaque. Fragrant & attractive nose of youthful ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & plums with some floral notes, earthy/dusty, spices, dried herbs, olives, some cocoa, leather, minerals & secondary nuances of cigar box notes of cedar & aged tobacco. Medium-full bodied with a good concentration of smooth textured & balanced, plush, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & cassis with spices, herbs, earthy, some cocoa, minerals and a touch of sweet vanilla. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks well at present but has some potential for further development with a few more years of additional aging.
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Drank over two days, much better on day two, showing more balance after it got plenty of air. It seemed very fruity on day one but settled down with some air.
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Much bigger than expected, with more dark fruits than red, leafy fruit. Duckhorn always has a tendency to be on the extracted side and slightly jammy side. I liked this but wasn't blown away.
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Had the Duckhorn Napa Valley Cab Franc at Rutherford Grill with friends. It was a bottle they brought a surprise for my Birthday. :)
I believe this is a blend of cab franc if memory serves from various Duckhorn locations. Popped and poured and the nose smelled of cherry and raspberry. On the palate, it tasted of cola, bing cherry, raspberry and a wave of bright red fruit with just a hint of spice box/tobacco. A little pricey by my taste but since I did not have to pay it was excellent. I would certainly recommend it depending upon the price.
I should note that I am not a big Cab Franc fan nor am I a fan of the 2011 vintage as a whole so take that into consideration when reading my review.
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Quite fruity and fresh with elements of cherry, dark current, vanilla, with a herbal dusty component, palate has nice fruit, with a hint of bitterness towards the finish, a bit pricey for what it is
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12/5/2021 - MadeiraLev Likes this wine: 88 Points
Pretty color, decent structure and balance. My biggest issue: it really does not evoke any sense of cabernet franc. Tasted blind, I suspect I would have emphatically called this out as a Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. Not a compelling value.
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11/26/2021 - Lemari wrote: 89 Points
Very thin flavor profile, this vintage has now fallen well below its prime.
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10/23/2020 - Francophile wrote: 85 Points
I love Cab Franc, it is probably my favourite grape, but it is difficult to find Cab Franc in this wine. My wife poured her glass down the drain and said it had no fruit and was just watery. I see others have said it needs 24 hours so I kept half a bottle, but I am not hopeful. It tasted very acidic to me and not an especially nice wine. I will revisit this note if it is better on day 2. I accept that it is at the end of its window. I did go back after 24 hours and try this again. It had not improved so I poured it away. I have one bottle left, I hope it is better.
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5/26/2020 - Pepyssam Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb; wish I had bought more of this.
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2/23/2019 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Double blind. Nice fruit- currants and plum- along wit peppery spice. Dark fruit on the palate. Long finish. Nice, but didn't pick this out as a franc.
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6/8/2018 - Francophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
While having a distinctive Can France aroma on opening it did not taste like a Loire C.F. and was I felt less fruity, while smooth.
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3/29/2018 - 1961Vintage wrote: 90 Points
Still plenty of life left. A bit flat relative to expectations.
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3/3/2018 - CO_Roots13 Likes this wine: 89 Points
At peak or just beyond. Decanted for a little over an hour (and it needed it). Decently expressive nose with cigar box, dusty black fruit and tar. Jammy and full on the palette with red fruit in spades along side tobacco and vanilla to support it. Plenty of tannins and rather round. Pleasant finish with tobacco and black cherry leading the way.
7-17-7-8
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2/10/2018 - wine4lux Likes this wine: 90 Points
Served with pork chops with a cranberry chutney; medium body, red fruit- currant and raspberries on the nose and palate, modest tannins, medium finish, modest complexity
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8/28/2017 - ravbik wrote: 88 Points
Medium body, almost like a Cali Pinot noir
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8/18/2017 - thebonnydooner wrote: 88 Points
Very non-descript. Nice sweet fruit, dark cherry and raspberry, light tannins very well balanced with a nice long finish. Just lacks complexity or the wow factor.
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4/5/2017 - travelin.mikeyt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Upon opening it had little nose and less finish. I was getting ready to say this was a loser. BUT...but, on the second day this bloomed. It is marvelous on the second day. The nose is currants and cherries. The mouth is more delicate and the finish is long and decadent.
Secret: itneeds time to open and possibly more time in the cellar.
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2/8/2017 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice bottle that's drinking surprisingly well here. The body is red fruit dominate in the beginning before saturating on the palate to darker fruit and a little stone. Tannins are easy - popped and poured over four hours - and spices accompany the dark fruit crescendo, mostly black pepper with a game meat warmth that turns a little woody and lingers. Tannins and acidity bring a little mouth flush fifteen seconds into the finish that lingers another 30.
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7/22/2016 - ravbik wrote: 85 Points
Medium body, fruity not very complex.
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12/25/2015 - gpritsch Likes this wine:
Very pleasant. Dark ruby color. Nose not strong. Would rate 90-91 pt. medium complexity.
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12/11/2015 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep, dark reddish-purple in color; almost opaque. Fragrant & attractive nose of youthful ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & plums with some floral notes, earthy/dusty, spices, dried herbs, olives, some cocoa, leather, minerals & secondary nuances of cigar box notes of cedar & aged tobacco. Medium-full bodied with a good concentration of smooth textured & balanced, plush, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & cassis with spices, herbs, earthy, some cocoa, minerals and a touch of sweet vanilla. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks well at present but has some potential for further development with a few more years of additional aging.
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11/1/2015 - GA_Seattle wrote: 85 Points
Disappointing. Big, rich, ripe fruit, but that's it. Faded quickly on the palate, little substance to this wine. Not what I remembered at all.
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10/17/2015 - wmccone54 wrote:
Drank over two days, much better on day two, showing more balance after it got plenty of air. It seemed very fruity on day one but settled down with some air.
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7/31/2015 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
Much bigger than expected, with more dark fruits than red, leafy fruit. Duckhorn always has a tendency to be on the extracted side and slightly jammy side. I liked this but wasn't blown away.
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1/3/2015 - travelme wrote: 90 Points
Had the Duckhorn Napa Valley Cab Franc at Rutherford Grill with friends. It was a bottle they brought a surprise for my Birthday. :)
I believe this is a blend of cab franc if memory serves from various Duckhorn locations. Popped and poured and the nose smelled of cherry and raspberry. On the palate, it tasted of cola, bing cherry, raspberry and a wave of bright red fruit with just a hint of spice box/tobacco. A little pricey by my taste but since I did not have to pay it was excellent. I would certainly recommend it depending upon the price.
I should note that I am not a big Cab Franc fan nor am I a fan of the 2011 vintage as a whole so take that into consideration when reading my review.
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5/29/2014 - eoinhharkins wrote: 89 Points
Quite fruity and fresh with elements of cherry, dark current, vanilla, with a herbal dusty component, palate has nice fruit, with a hint of bitterness towards the finish, a bit pricey for what it is
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