2007 Shinn Estate Vineyards Cabernet Franc

New York Cork Report

• By Lenn Thompson
  1/26/2010, (See more on New York Cork Report...) 4 out of 5 stars

  (Shinn Estate Vineyards Cabernet Franc North Fork Long Island) May well be a new benchmark for cabernet franc on the North Fork. Fermented slowly, with extended skin contact -- the kind of 40-50 day contact one would only attempt with perfectly ripe fruit -- and then aged in new French oak for 18 months, this wine's nose is exotically spiced with layers of dark chocolate, bay leaf, and woodsy sassafras beneath intensely ripe black chrerry and blueberry compote aromas. Plump and mouth-filling, the palate shows ripe dark fruit flavors with exotic, Moroccan spice, dark roast coffee, more woodsy sasafrass, and a subtle bay leaf note. The tannins are medium-intense, ripe and round.