This needs a decant as it gets better after 30 minutes to an hour. It is remarkably well balanced for a California cab franc. Red and black cherry, a little bell pepper and herbs. Medium bodied, tannins well integrated, still quite vigorous with ripe fruit, interesting layers of complexity. Can continue to evolve for a few more years.
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A touch perplexing and perhaps disappointing. Around 95% can franc but it’s not classical Cab Franc on the nose, very much feels more dominant in rich napa Cab Sav / Merlot even though that’s only 5 % of the wine. There is some cab Franc nose but it’s not elegant. More on the palate giving a finish that benefits from aeriation and plenty of acidity. The can franc almost gives it a freshness but this isn’t a light or fresh wine really. It’s holding up very well though and no fears of its status. I wouldn’t have marked it as a 14 year old wine. Finish has a fair bit of lean grip and bramble / pepper. Not a bad wine, in fact very good but at the price and given the heat / high alcohol I won’t be buying more. I have a case of 2016 at half the price and be interesting to see if they have progressed as producers over the years.
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Largely consistent with our previous bottles - to the extent my opinion is different, it's that the fresh herbal notes seemed more pronounced than I recall from previous bottles, and the freshness at this age surprises me. Looking forward to checking in on this one again in a few years.
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This is a terrific new world cabernet franc. Decanted one hour. Hedonistic nose of blackberries, violets and herbs. The wine is dark garnet without showing much maturation. The wine is medium to full bodied with well integrated somewhat silky tannins and flavors of black currant, blackberries, herbs and tobacco. This still has many years to go and could improve further.
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Inky black in color. The 2006 bursts from the glass with a complex aroma of spice box, graphite, tobacco, and green pepper. Tannins are backloaded and still quite firm after a two hour decant; which makes me think there this has another decade of evolution in store. The finish is a tad too acidic for my palate. I tend to prefer the more recent vintages of Jonata (e.g., the 2013 el Alma is one of the greatest Cab Franc’s I have ever had) which are stylistically evolved from the winery’s early days.
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Deep purple color. Smells like a giant green pepper. Very tight even after obe hour of decantering. Very heavy in mouth with more green pepper, currant, and blackberries. Still tons of tannin. Needs a few more years in the bottle.
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Consistent with my previous tasting note. Someday I'll start paying attention to my earlier notes - as I thought might be the case, this wine hasn't budged since last time. I'll tell myself again to come back in a few years - knowing full well I'll probably ignore that too. Sigh.
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Still so tannic even after a 5 hour decant. Green pepper, metal, chalky black fruit, and mostly mouth numbing tannins. Nose is signifantly more round than the palate. Believe it or no but it needs 10 more years. Better on night 2 but turned a little pruney.
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Decanted 3+ hours. Better showing than prior bottle. Color is dense/inky purple. Nose is black currants, black raspberry and then graphite; some floral undertones. Blueberries, cedar and graphite in the mouth. CabFranc poster-child.
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Decanted for an hour before service. In the glass, dark saturated red, shimmering inky black at the center. On the nose, bell peppers, currants, and apples(?). On the palate, more currants, plums, more green pepper, and a touch of cedar; love that cab franc talking. Moderate but persistent tannins on a relatively long finish. Approachable now, but I think this is at least five years away from really showing what it has to offer. Really nice wine.
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Decanted 4.5 hours before drinking. Expectations were too high. While the mouthfeel, body and finish were exception and is transitioned from black fruit to graphite to a long finish without too much tannin, the nose was underwhelming. No one got more than a little fruit and wet metal - did not wow this time. Will try my other bottle in a few years.
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no love here from me. I love the todos but was a bit dissapointed of this one. Tasted blind and thats my rating before i knew what it was. Honey, creme de cassis, curry, blackberries, hint of green peppers which turned me off. Good wine, bad qpr
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Popped & poured. Dark purple. Strong, beautiful blueberry nose with a touch of mint & sweet oak. Needs more time in glass or cellar. Shared with 5 people so one glass & gone, not enough time to get the true feel, but lots more potential. Beautiful wine.
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My favorite of the tasting. Blueberry and black fruit ooze down the glass. Finsh lasts forever, instant gratifcation. WWould be hard not to consume all purchased as it is that good now.
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Spot on Cab Franc that hits ideal ripeness. Freshly opened bottle; was fairly tight. Showed slightly jammy cherry and berry with jalapeno. Lots of structure and fine tannins clamp on mid-palate. Dark chocolate and pepper finish. Definitely one to hold or decant if you must drink it young. I think it's about 2-3 times what it should cost (Longoria Evidence is arguably more expressive with similar flavor and structure), but it's definitely one to take seriously.
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2/23/2023 - Sir Lee wrote:
Sweet and fruity.
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4/18/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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3/29/2021 - mclanew Likes this wine: 93 Points
This needs a decant as it gets better after 30 minutes to an hour. It is remarkably well balanced for a California cab franc. Red and black cherry, a little bell pepper and herbs. Medium bodied, tannins well integrated, still quite vigorous with ripe fruit, interesting layers of complexity. Can continue to evolve for a few more years.
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4/24/2020 - Mbad77 wrote: 91 Points
A touch perplexing and perhaps disappointing. Around 95% can franc but it’s not classical Cab Franc on the nose, very much feels more dominant in rich napa Cab Sav / Merlot even though that’s only 5 % of the wine.
There is some cab Franc nose but it’s not elegant. More on the palate giving a finish that benefits from aeriation and plenty of acidity. The can franc almost gives it a freshness but this isn’t a light or fresh wine really.
It’s holding up very well though and no fears of its status. I wouldn’t have marked it as a 14 year old wine. Finish has a fair bit of lean grip and bramble / pepper.
Not a bad wine, in fact very good but at the price and given the heat / high alcohol I won’t be buying more. I have a case of 2016 at half the price and be interesting to see if they have progressed as producers over the years.
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11/16/2019 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Largely consistent with our previous bottles - to the extent my opinion is different, it's that the fresh herbal notes seemed more pronounced than I recall from previous bottles, and the freshness at this age surprises me. Looking forward to checking in on this one again in a few years.
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4/13/2019 - mclanew Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a terrific new world cabernet franc. Decanted one hour. Hedonistic nose of blackberries, violets and herbs. The wine is dark garnet without showing much maturation. The wine is medium to full bodied with well integrated somewhat silky tannins and flavors of black currant, blackberries, herbs and tobacco. This still has many years to go and could improve further.
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4/7/2019 - jgreco Likes this wine: 92 Points
Inky black in color. The 2006 bursts from the glass with a complex aroma of spice box, graphite, tobacco, and green pepper. Tannins are backloaded and still quite firm after a two hour decant; which makes me think there this has another decade of evolution in store. The finish is a tad too acidic for my palate. I tend to prefer the more recent vintages of Jonata (e.g., the 2013 el Alma is one of the greatest Cab Franc’s I have ever had) which are stylistically evolved from the winery’s early days.
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8/30/2017 - ErickG wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple color. Smells like a giant green pepper. Very tight even after obe hour of decantering. Very heavy in mouth with more green pepper, currant, and blackberries. Still tons of tannin. Needs a few more years in the bottle.
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4/2/2017 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with my previous tasting note. Someday I'll start paying attention to my earlier notes - as I thought might be the case, this wine hasn't budged since last time. I'll tell myself again to come back in a few years - knowing full well I'll probably ignore that too. Sigh.
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4/29/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 92 Points
Still so tannic even after a 5 hour decant. Green pepper, metal, chalky black fruit, and mostly mouth numbing tannins. Nose is signifantly more round than the palate. Believe it or no but it needs 10 more years. Better on night 2 but turned a little pruney.
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12/31/2015 - WinthropT96 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3+ hours. Better showing than prior bottle. Color is dense/inky purple. Nose is black currants, black raspberry and then graphite; some floral undertones. Blueberries, cedar and graphite in the mouth. CabFranc poster-child.
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10/17/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour before service. In the glass, dark saturated red, shimmering inky black at the center. On the nose, bell peppers, currants, and apples(?). On the palate, more currants, plums, more green pepper, and a touch of cedar; love that cab franc talking. Moderate but persistent tannins on a relatively long finish. Approachable now, but I think this is at least five years away from really showing what it has to offer. Really nice wine.
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11/28/2014 - WinthropT96 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 4.5 hours before drinking. Expectations were too high. While the mouthfeel, body and finish were exception and is transitioned from black fruit to graphite to a long finish without too much tannin, the nose was underwhelming. No one got more than a little fruit and wet metal - did not wow this time. Will try my other bottle in a few years.
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1/7/2014 - pinotwinelover wrote: 95 Points
Great cab franc. I got to try out the Coravin on this wine and waited just 2 weeks after taking a glass. Love the wine and the Coravin.
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6/15/2013 - cubswinws wrote: 91 Points
Still dense and young. Needs a long decant or much more cellar time. I made the mistake of a pop and pour and it didn't do this justice.
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10/30/2011 - G_H wrote: 89 Points
no love here from me. I love the todos but was a bit dissapointed of this one. Tasted blind and thats my rating before i knew what it was. Honey, creme de cassis, curry, blackberries, hint of green peppers which turned me off. Good wine, bad qpr
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10/4/2011 - Martinryan wrote: 93 Points
Powerful and exact. Sweet dark berries and fine tannins. Still a bit tight as I was expecting a longer finish. Beautiful floral nose.
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6/23/2011 - patwjr wrote: 92 Points
The wine this time tasted green & stems, offset with the nice blueberries & lavender floral notes. Last bottle 6 months ago was better.
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10/8/2010 - patwjr wrote: 95 Points
Popped & poured. Dark purple. Strong, beautiful blueberry nose with a touch of mint & sweet oak. Needs more time in glass or cellar. Shared with 5 people so one glass & gone, not enough time to get the true feel, but lots more potential. Beautiful wine.
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4/20/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 96 Points
My favorite of the tasting. Blueberry and black fruit ooze down the glass. Finsh lasts forever, instant gratifcation. WWould be hard not to consume all purchased as it is that good now.
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4/9/2010 - Cabfrancophile wrote:
Spot on Cab Franc that hits ideal ripeness. Freshly opened bottle; was fairly tight. Showed slightly jammy cherry and berry with jalapeno. Lots of structure and fine tannins clamp on mid-palate. Dark chocolate and pepper finish. Definitely one to hold or decant if you must drink it young. I think it's about 2-3 times what it should cost (Longoria Evidence is arguably more expressive with similar flavor and structure), but it's definitely one to take seriously.
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