Category Archives: Cabernet Franc

Chateau Saint-Pierre 2005

Chateau Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien 2005 This is pleasure in a glass, ripeness of fruit, great density yet rounded off edges. The structure supports the density of flavor while the acidity carries the flavor a long way – very nice. The estate … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Saint-Julien | Leave a comment

Chateau Gloria 2005

Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 2005 There’s a nice smoky essence in the nose while in the mouth you’ll find cranberries and dark chocolate. This wine is quite chewy and would certainly benefit from 6-8 years in the cellar. The estate is … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Saint-Julien | Leave a comment

Robert Sinskey POV 2006

Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Napa Valley, POV, Red Wine 2006 This wine features a bevy of fresh blueberries and a complementary dusting of oak; it’s light-bodied with ripe tannins and a healthy acidity to encourage consumtion with a roasted pork tenderloin, … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Merlot, Napa Valley | Leave a comment

Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Stonegate, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley, Spaulding Vineyard, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 This wine delivers chocolate wrapped in black fruits with a healthy dusting of oak on a big structure. The acidity carries the flavors a long way and while … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley | 1 Comment

Napa Valley Cabernet Franc

McKenzie-Mueller, Napa Valley, Estate Bottled, Cabernet Franc 2005 The black fruit in the nose is very sweet smelling, with notes of pencil shavings and cedar. In the mouth it is light to medium-bodied with a sense of vanilla and chalky … Continue reading

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Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2009 Bordeaux stars

Spragia Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Home Ranch, Merlot 2006 The nose features a strong blast of fresh oak. In the mouth that note carries through, with plummy fruit, a little warmth and a supple texture. V&B in St. Helena … Continue reading

Posted in Alexander Valley, Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Dry Creek Valley, Malbec, Merlot, Sonoma County | 1 Comment

Biserno Insoglio del cinghiale 2006

Tenuta di Biserno, Toscana, Insoglio del cinghiale IGT 2006 There’s a sense of France in this wine from Tuscany, with black fruit, an herbaceous edge and tannic grip. The grapes are Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This winery is shepherded … Continue reading

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2004 Napa Bordeaux Blends

Franciscan, Napa Valley, Magnificat 2004 This wine exudes sweet ripe fruit in the nose. This profile follows through in the mouth with chalky tannins and lingering acidity. Produced and bottled in Rutherford 14.5% $50 at the winery for the latest … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Malbec, Merlot, Napa Valley, Petit Verdot, Stags Leap District | 1 Comment

Bouvet Brut Rose

Bouvet-Ladubay, Brut, Rose, Excellence nv There’s a candied red fruit character in the nose while in the mouth, the wine is lean and acidic, perhaps a little green, with a bitter, pithy grip. The grapes are Cabernet Franc and are … Continue reading

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Smith Haut Lafitte 2005

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan 2005 The nose smells of leather, earth, smokiness, horse blanket and a host of descriptors that get at a sense of brettanomycees as complexity rather than a flaw. That said, I know that this level … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pessac-Leognan | Leave a comment