Community Tasting Note
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msuwine wrote: 94 points
December 7, 2019 - This elegant and nuanced Cab Franc blend is drinking well right now, but it probably needs another year or two to integrate and blossom. Similar to the Cardinale, this is not a showy wine, but it wins you over with its lovely combination of intensity, subtlety, and freshness. It actually took a few hours of air to reach the level of complexity it showed at the winery, but it got there eventually - and boy was it tasty.
Dark red in color and medium in body, the wine offers aromas of black cherry, gravel, baked herbs, and fresh-ground pepper. Tastes of boysenberry, leather, graphite, and bay leaf, with a silky and lingering finish that leaves the mouth watering for more (read: acidity). There are still plenty of tannins, though, which need their time to resolve. A little more grippy and plummy on second day. Blend of 76.5% Cabernet Franc and 23.5% Merlot, with grapes mostly from Spring (61.5%) but also from Howell - Keyes (18.5%), Diamond (15%), and Veeder (5%). Give this another few years, and it could be quite special. 94 for now.1 person found this helpful 3,749 views
3 Comments
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Mark1npt commented:
12/8/19, 6:51 AM - Thanks for the notes, pal! Bought a 3 pack of this sight unseeen......have been debating opening. Now, I'm even more confused.....1 now? 1 next year? 1 the next? That sounds like a perfect drinking schedule to me.......
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msuwine commented:
12/8/19, 10:18 AM - Hi Mark - thanks for the comment. I think the extra year of bottle age helps this one. (Since I received this at the same time as the 2016 wines, I kept thinking it was younger.)
I also think decanting is a must on this, since it seems kind of simple right after opening. I'm not a huge Cab Franc guy, but this occupies a nice spot on the spectrum - not gamey or peppery, more accessible than the Veeder Cab Franc, more elegant than the La Jota Cab Franc.
Anyway, will be curious what you think! -
Mark1npt commented:
12/8/19, 10:24 AM - I've already got a nice BDX decanting for my steak dinner tonight.....might have to open one of these in the coming weeks. Will def let you know and post on CT.....thanks! Mark