2016 Aonair Wines Cabernet Franc Estate Conn Valley

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 93.3 points

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  6/24/2023 - sstein19 Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Maroon with hints of brown. First nose of strawberry, raspberry, and cedar. Second nose of cherry, rose, and cola. Very velvety and smooth through the palate. Tannins have smoothed but are still there. Vanilla cherry cola flavors.

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  5/14/2023 - sstein19 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Deep ruby in color. Nose of dark cherry and barnwood. Second nose is more of the same with more jammy dark fruits, blueberry, plum, molasses, and a hint of vanilla. Smooth and velvety through the platate.

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  3/5/2022 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points

  It's really quite incredible how different this wine was with vs. without food. The way this wine begged for food companionship would have made me think (for a second) that this was a French CF....until you realize that the style in which this wine is made is classic California. The wine poured a violet color to the glass. Floral perfume of white flowers, cedar, sandalwood, purple and red fruit candy crush was really beautiful and the palate just about mirrors the nose. Jagged finish without food, sweet cedar tannin finish but a bit cloaked and harsh. With food, all of the notes above just carry through, and adds a red fruit pie spice, even a little sweet chocolate pie. Just delicious. I think this one begs for food more than it begs for cellaring. I just see this wine starting to develop secondary characteristics before the tannic curtain lets down and allows it to resonate like it did tonight with the Italian Chicken Rossini (ham, chicken, mozzarella and marinara with pasta). I'm more than a fan of California Cab Franc that is well made, and this wine from the Conn Valley region is just beautifully done. This wine is quite fruit forward, but quite complex.. But please, do yourself the favor of consuming this one with food or else you're selling this wine (and your investment in it) quite short. This wine is ready to go with about a 30 minute bottle decant. If you hold, don't go past 2027-ish especially if you like 'em on the younger side of the fruit spectrum.

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