Barboursville Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve 2006

Overshadowed by its bigger brother, the outstanding Octagon, Barboursville Vineyards produces a reserve Cabernet Franc that can stand toe-to-toe with any in the world. The Barboursville Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve is the house red wine at the world famous “The Inn at Little Washington“, the only Five Star and Five Diamond inn and restaurant in America. Not the wineries hallmark wine, but a quality, well-made Cabernet Franc nonetheless.

I’ve had the opportunity to taste both the 2006 and 2007 vintages, and both never fail to impress. Varietal-correct, the reserve displays red berries, cherries and spice on the nose.  On the palate, consistent notes of red fruit, bell pepper, dried herbs and tobacco that I love so much about the variety. Larger tannins than one might expect, which leads me to think this wine will do fine with short-term cellaring. Smooth and balanced on its own, but remarkably agile with food.

At $23 retail, the wine is a must for any Cabernet Franc aficionado.  The 2008 is currently available for purchase online.

Winemaker Luca Paschina has managed to capture the essence of the grape in the reserve bottling and manages to do so consistently in every vintage. The hallmarks of excellence in my book.  Cheers!

A small number of wines and wineries have developed an almost cult-like following east of the west coast.  Paumanok Vineyards Chenin Blanc, Barboursville Vineyards Octagon and rockstar-turned-winemaker, Maynard James Keenan portfolio of wines have all been certified platinum by wine writers and critics alike.  After tasting the Kinkead Ridge 2008 Cabernet Franc, I’m convinced the list just got a little longer.

Kinkead Ridge 2008 Cabernet Franc

Two years ago I began reading and hearing lots of wine chatter about Kinkead Ridge Estate Winery, a small producer in Ripley, Ohio.  Renowned for their Cabernet Franc, Kinkead Ridge also grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Viognier, Riesling, Roussanne and Sauvignon Blanc on their 5-acre estate vineyard.

Excited to learn more about Kinkead Ridge and especially their wines, Owner and Managing Partner Nancy Bentley kindly sent me 3 wines to sample, led by their Jefferson Cup Winner 2008 Cabernet Franc.

Dark fruit dominates the nose with a hint of red cherry, tobacco and spice.  Blackberries, cherries, herbs and green peppers explode on the palate.  A medium-bodied wine with balanced acidity and tannin.  An outstanding effort, especially at $18 retail.

A front runner for my 2011 wine of the year, the Kinkead Ridge 2008 Cabernet Franc delivers on all fronts. Cheers!

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2 Lads 2008 Cabernet Franc

Very rarely does a wine label provide a window into a wineries principles.  Bold, modern and true, the foundations of 2 Lads Winery.  The second winery featured on my tour of the Old Mission Peninsula, 2 Lads Winery is a modern, contemporary winery with 22 acres of vineyards.  Specializing in cool-climate red and sparkling wines, the winery produces a small run of white wines to round out production.  Sustainable farming combined with their hands-off approach to winemaking sets 2 Lads apart from more traditional wineries.

The 2008 2 Lads Cabernet Franc ($25) saw 10 months in “2nd fill” French oak barrels and natural malolactic fermentation.  On the nose, aromas of red cherries, cranberries and red currant abound.  In the mouth, flavors of plums, raspberries and a touch of nutmeg are on display in the light to medium-bodied wine.

Made in a fruit-forward style that more and more winemakers are gravitating towards, especially in Michigan.  Cheers!

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The 2007 vintage in Virginia was the equivalent of the 2005 vintage in Bordeaux. Classic.  An outstanding vintage for reds especially, the combination of warm, dry conditions from Spring until harvest, helped shape fruit-driven whites and balanced, focused reds.  Delicious out of the gate, cellaring will reward the patient in a few years.

More and more 2007′s are finding their way out of the cellar and into tasting rooms across Virginia.  One in particular, the 2007 Cabernet Franc from Veramar Vineyard, found it’s way to my glass this weekend.  Awarded a very respectable 87 point score from the Wine Enthusiast, the Cabernet Franc didn’t disappoint.  Originally available for $35, the 2007 is no longer available for sale.

On the nose layers of dark fruit, cedar, and vanilla round out with a hint of oak and spice.  On the palate a woodsy blend of ripe dark fruit flavors, nutmeg and a touch of herbaceousness that I love in the variety.  A focused effort from Veramar Vineyards.  Cheers!

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Wine online: Buy 6 or more bottles and get 1/2 off shipping with code “other32″.

Ravines 2007 Cabernet Franc

I know, I know, another post on New York wine.  What can I say, I’m in a New York State of mind, especially after tasting the Ravines 2007 Cabernet Franc.  A wine like this makes me want to rename my website TheOther47.com or better yet, EastoftheWestCoast.com.  You never know what the future holds…

Ravines Wine Cellars is an award-winning, boutique winery located in the Finger Lakes wine region in upstate New York on the eastern slopes of Keuka Lake.  I first read about Ravines on the New York Cork Report and then had the opportunity to sample their excellent Pinot Noir courtesy of Lenn Thompson and the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association during the TasteLive event in March (read more here).  After the first sip, I was hooked.

The 2007 Cabernet Franc retails for $19 and clocks in at 12.5% alcohol.  A beautiful bouquet of red fruit, spice and a hint of vanilla greets the nose.  Raspberries, dark cherries, and more of the same spicy, herbal notes exhibited on the nose help carry this wine through to the finish.  A medium-bodied wine with great balance and complexity.  In summary, a wine I will be ordering more of for myself and a wine sure to impress family and friends.  Ravines hit a home run with this one, and at $19, the wine represents one of the best quality price ratio Cab Francs on the east coast.  Bravo Ravines!

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The DrinkLocalWine.com conference festivities kicked off with an informal gathering of wine writers at Lansdowne Resort to enjoy a tasting of wines from the other 47 states.  Hosted by Dezel Quillen at On The Potomac, we each brought an assortment of wines from New York, Texas, Colorado, Maryland, Hawaii, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia, the focus of the weekend.  An impressive lineup of 25 plus wines were poured throughout the night paired alongside an assortment of local cheeses and charcuterie including house-made Pan Seared Duck Foie Gras and Chorizo Sausage and Creamy Polenta.

There were 4 standouts on my tasting sheet amongst a solid lineup.  Highlights included the Lenz 2001 Estate Merlot with its earthiness, leather, and black cherry notes, followed by the herbaceous, varietal correct Windham 2004 Cabernet Franc (winery is now named Doukénie Winery).  The New York Cork Report White Wine of the Year, the Billsboro 2008 Riesling impressed all, while the Glen Manor 2008 Sauvignon Blanc displayed the potential of the variety in the state.  Honorable mentions included the Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay, Brennan Vineyards Viognier, and the Benmarl Baco Noir.  New York and Virginia definitely represented!

The tasting proved to be a great start to the conference and helped promote the other 47 states.  I also had the privilege to meet a few other great wine bloggers including DrinkLocalWine.com co-founder Jeff Siegel (The Wine Curmudgeon), Allan Liska (CellarBlog), Sean Sullivan (Washington Wine Report), Tammy Colson (Southern Wine Trails), and Raelinn Schmitt (Wine Ophelia).  An evening to remember…

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Elk Creek Vineyards 2007 Estate Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc has always been a staple in my household, especially those from the other 46 states.  The Elk Creek Vineyards 2007 Estate Cabernet Franc I recently poured only reaffirmed my feelings for the grape.  Garnering a respectable 83 score from the Wine Enthusiast, Elk Creek Vineyards is demonstrating Cabernet Franc has a bright future in Kentucky.

Smoky with a hint of spice, the wine displays rich aromas of black fruit and plum.  Cranberries, plums, and black pepper are quickly displaced by flavors of vanilla and red cherry.

A balanced, medium-bodied wine that will pair well with a wide variety of dishes.  A bit pricey at $35, but a sure bet to please the Cab Franc lover.

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I received two samples from the winery, a Traditional Mead and a Cabernet Franc.  Tonight I focus on the Cabernet Franc, a personal favorite of mine.  Recently released in January, the 2008 vintage retails for $20 and clocks in at 13.5% alcohol.  Aged in French oak, only 50 cases were produced.  On the nose, ripe black fruit with a hint of oak shine through, lending support to a nicely balanced, charming wine.  A solid effort for their inaugural release.

Be sure to read fellow friend and wine blogger, Jacob Harkins review of the Dithyramb 2008 Cabernet Franc.  I also suggest bookmarking his outstanding wine blog, ColoradoWino.com.  Cheers!

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The first stop along the Colorado Wine Trail brings us to Garfield Estates Vineyard and Winery in Palisade, Colorado.  Located almost a mile above sea level in the Grand Valley AVA, the 17 acre vineyard faces the picturesque Mount Garfield, for which the vineyard is named.  The combination of high altitude (4,720 feet), hot, dry summers and cool nights provide the ideal climate for growing Syrah, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscat Ottonel.  Committed to quality, Garfield Estates is helping put Colorado on the wine map.

Garfield Estates provided the wines for my taste of Colorado.  The first pour was the 2008 S2, a Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon blend fermented in stainless steel with no oak aging.  A beautiful wine in glass; grapefruit and lemon dominate the nose.  On the palate, crisp and clean with nice citrus notes.  The second wine tasted included the 2007 Cabernet Franc.  A consistent award winner, the polished and balanced red leaves you wanting a second (and third) glass.  A crowd-pleasing wine that would pair well with food.  I’d love to put this in a blind tasting and see this wine kick some serious butt.

If you live in Colorado, what are you waiting for!  Grab a wine map and head out to Garfield Estates for great wine and a fabulous view.  If your planning your next vacation, why not visit Colorado’s growing wine industry!

Be sure to check back later this week for a taste of Canyon Wind Cellars.  Cheers!

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Elk Run Vineyards

Elk Run offers two tastings, a featured flight of 6 wines for $5 OR your choice of 6 wines for $8.  I opted for the latter, considering I had already zeroed in on a few wines prior to my visit.  My lineup included 2 whites and 4 reds.  Up first, the Cold Friday Chardonnay, was fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak.  A full-bodied Chardonnay with vanilla and oak notes.  The second wine, a 2008 Gewürztraminer, took first place for the whites and is a consistent winner for Elk Run. The 2009 Winemasters Choice gold medal winner, the Gewürztraminer firmly cements Maryland’s place on the wine map.  Bravo.

Elk Run Vineyards

For the reds, the 2007 Cold Friday Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon were the runaway winners.  The Cab Franc is a spicy, peppery wine that can stand alone or pairs well with food.  The Cabernet Sauvignon ($25) was my wine-of-the-day and will be featured later this week in a separate post.  Stay tuned.

If you haven’t visited a Maryland winery, what are you waiting for,  just do it!  I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

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