Bit neutral on this wine. It’s “good” but the finish is really strong on tannins. I opened it up, PnP thru an aerator , and sipped. Still tight, dark fruits, tart, but not puckering up entirely. Finish was long and wet, but hard on the tannins. I would give it a few more years before opening another bottle. Second day with the bottle vacuumed, finish started to mellow a little bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of the best Cab Franc's I have tasted in years. Give it plenty of air and this wine shines. Such a wonderful lip smacking balance of fruit and spice. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark blue and black fruits, a bit spicy / peppery on the entry, still grippy tannins but smooth, some oaky notes on the exit. Fairly long finish with some good lip smacking moisture. There's some vegetation, maybe eucalyptus or mint hiding underneath. Drinking nicely now, will continue to evolve according to Smith and I concur.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First taste: Tannins are really up front, peppery and green…Apple?. Finish has some tobacco notes
It’s really tight, tannins and alcohol are at the forefront. Poured through a Vivino, and it opened up a little; the cherry comes out more on the nose and palate. 2 hour decant and the fruit is out in front, Cherry and Granny Smith, with a hint of tannins. Came back the next day an this has really opened up. Excellent flavors with a long decant, could use some time to mature.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are fast. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raspberry and orange. It tastes like cherry. The body is light/medium. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full disclosure: I had a slight cold and mistakenly thought I had opened a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. I have an undeveloped palate.
Nose: lean, and red. I could not detect any notable fruit smells. There was something there, but I couldn't catch it. First taste: expecting a Cabernet Sauvignon, I was struck by the lean, ascetic taste. Very little fruit, noticed the tannins, checked the bottle, and went, "Aha!" First glass thoroughly enjoyable with a pesto tortellini dish.
2nd day: still had a cold. Nose: The wine had opened up slightly, but it was still being coquettish and not revealing itself. Initial taste had more depth and body, but not as full bodied as a cabernet sauvignon. The finish was very clean with a hint of minerality.
I really enjoyed this wine, but believe it is an acquired taste for those who enjoy varietals that stay true to form.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
very fine cab franc, very true to its varietal characteristics of green peppers and stone, very clean nose, was abit closed at pnp, but then opened up over the next hour plus. super smooth and with a juicy acidic tang. however, just like all my winesmith experiences, it lacks fruit. I want some berries in my wine, this adds to the overall enjoyment of wine, but Mr. Smiths wines focus too much on being verieatally pure they miss the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful nose but having trouble with specifics initially as I can't get past "barrel room". On the palate, mostly plum but with great depth. After additional swirling, also getting some tart cherry. Back to the nose and I am smelling plum and other dark fruits along with a hint of mint/camphor. As the wine continues to open in the glass, I detect some currant and blueberry notes. The tannins are becoming grippier but not drying - in fact, the wine has a juicy mouthfeel to it. Medium body, medium+ finish, nice minerality. Excellent effort by winemaker Clark Smith despite a sub-par vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/25/2023 - twich22 wrote:
Very plummey
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2023 - twich22 wrote:
Very very plummey
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2023 - HWgeek wrote: 89 Points
Bit neutral on this wine. It’s “good” but the finish is really strong on tannins. I opened it up, PnP thru an aerator , and sipped. Still tight, dark fruits, tart, but not puckering up entirely. Finish was long and wet, but hard on the tannins. I would give it a few more years before opening another bottle. Second day with the bottle vacuumed, finish started to mellow a little bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2023 - costacasa Likes this wine: 91 Points
One of the best Cab Franc's I have tasted in years. Give it plenty of air and this wine shines. Such a wonderful lip smacking balance of fruit and spice. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2023 - deadlyapp Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark blue and black fruits, a bit spicy / peppery on the entry, still grippy tannins but smooth, some oaky notes on the exit. Fairly long finish with some good lip smacking moisture. There's some vegetation, maybe eucalyptus or mint hiding underneath. Drinking nicely now, will continue to evolve according to Smith and I concur.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2022 - InFrom/HF Likes this wine: 89 Points
Delightful, lightly fruity. Vegetal notes and tannins coming out over time.The bottle is disappearing fast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2019 - Wardad wrote:
It was good. Bordeauxy, which my wife does not like. Improved sitting on the counter for a couple days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2019 - bent80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bright clear ruby
Slow legs
Nose:
Bright cherry
Hint of pepper
First taste: Tannins are really up front, peppery and green…Apple?. Finish has some tobacco notes
It’s really tight, tannins and alcohol are at the forefront.
Poured through a Vivino, and it opened up a little; the cherry comes out more on the nose and palate.
2 hour decant and the fruit is out in front, Cherry and Granny Smith, with a hint of tannins. Came back the next day an this has really opened up. Excellent flavors with a long decant, could use some time to mature.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2018 - Bodwon Likes this wine: 88 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are fast. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raspberry and orange. It tastes like cherry. The body is light/medium. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2018 - The Crank wrote: 88 Points
Full disclosure: I had a slight cold and mistakenly thought I had opened a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. I have an undeveloped palate.
Nose: lean, and red. I could not detect any notable fruit smells. There was something there, but I couldn't catch it. First taste: expecting a Cabernet Sauvignon, I was struck by the lean, ascetic taste. Very little fruit, noticed the tannins, checked the bottle, and went, "Aha!" First glass thoroughly enjoyable with a pesto tortellini dish.
2nd day: still had a cold. Nose: The wine had opened up slightly, but it was still being coquettish and not revealing itself. Initial taste had more depth and body, but not as full bodied as a cabernet sauvignon. The finish was very clean with a hint of minerality.
I really enjoyed this wine, but believe it is an acquired taste for those who enjoy varietals that stay true to form.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2017 - manny651 Likes this wine: 89 Points
very fine cab franc, very true to its varietal characteristics of green peppers and stone, very clean nose, was abit closed at pnp, but then opened up over the next hour plus. super smooth and with a juicy acidic tang. however, just like all my winesmith experiences, it lacks fruit. I want some berries in my wine, this adds to the overall enjoyment of wine, but Mr. Smiths wines focus too much on being verieatally pure they miss the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2017 - ChipGreen wrote:
Wonderful nose but having trouble with specifics initially as I can't get past "barrel room". On the palate, mostly plum but with great depth. After additional swirling, also getting some tart cherry. Back to the nose and I am smelling plum and other dark fruits along with a hint of mint/camphor. As the wine continues to open in the glass, I detect some currant and blueberry notes. The tannins are becoming grippier but not drying - in fact, the wine has a juicy mouthfeel to it. Medium body, medium+ finish, nice minerality. Excellent effort by winemaker Clark Smith despite a sub-par vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment