East Block Cabernet Franc

2018 East Block Cabernet Franc was outstanding, 2019 was not far behind it. The 2019 estate Cabernet Sauvignon you could really see the difference with the tannin structure compared to the svelte and luxurious East Block tannin. Another great visit to the Detert home in Oakville!

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

Here is the other wine that I claimed may have been the red wine of the trip, and also may have been one of the top winery visits of the trip! Loved tasting in the family home and hearing the connecting stories between them and the Macdonalds. I’ll forever be grateful that @Carl Fischer introduced me to Detert years ago, and he helped make an intro so that I could visit this time around.

Monster! This is like the normal cab franc but with everything turned up to 11. However, because it’s cab franc, the elevated profile isn’t overwhelmingly fruit forward...it just makes it so floral. Potpourri, violets, jasmine accompanied by herbal spice, black tea, mulberries, dark chocolate and cedar. Zero trace of green pepper. Very vineyard loyal. As old vine To Kalon cab franc, this has classic To Kalon power with currant, graphite, vibrant black cherries, clay/dirt, red, blue and black berries with skyscraper like structure and profile. Very fine grained tannins. This is an astounding cab franc.

Sampled 4/29/2019 at “Taste of Oakville”.
94+ pts.

Part 1 of the final and main event for the Fall WNH. The most spectacular lineup of wines I’ve ever seen, and an overall wonderful ending to an amazing trip with fantastic people.

Enjoyed this alongside the ‘11, and think they are worthy of the same score but for different reasons. Old vine To-Kalon CF. Big and rich bouquet with blueberry, blackberry and licorice. A touch more sweetness here than the more savory ‘11, both of which I thought reflected CF well for their respective vintage. Dusty. Dark chocolate and roasted plum. Incredible bottle, @Eric LaMasters .

Part 1 of the final and main event for the Fall WNH. The most spectacular lineup of wines I’ve ever seen, and an overall wonderful ending to an amazing trip with fantastic people.

This was enjoyed next to the ‘12, and I thought both were incredible, and worthy of the same score but for different reasons. Impressive, especially for the “damned 2011 vintage”. Old vine To-Kalon CF. Spectacular nose of black pepper covered blackberries, crushed potpourri and graphite. Medium weighted on the palate. What I liked about this is that the spice/pepper gave this a lean, but savory component, whereas the ‘12 was more fruit and power. Killer, @Carl Fischer !

Solid 09 from old vine Cab Franc vines...this blew my mind how good it was! Great work Tom!

From some of the (the most?) oldest Cabernet Franc vines in Napa, the plush and velvety expression of wines from Tokalon are here with a dense core of black and red fruits, with hints of Cabernet Franc showing pepper, dried beef, peppercorns and toasty coffee notes from some very well integrated oak. Big, but very elegant, good intensity without feeling heavy or weighty. Old vines rock!
#detert #cabernetfranc #shouldbetokalon #napa

Absolutely stunning. An extraordinary Cab Franc - the aromas explode from the glass - dark fruit, spice and florals. This is incredibly rich and dense and extremely well-balanced. I cannot say enough good things about Detert wines and the East Block bottlings take them to a new level.

This wine is just phenomenal. As good as the regular Detert Cabernet Franc is, this special bottling of a single block of their original To Kalon vines is that much better. Stunning and concentrated fruit, sweet tannins, and bright acidity. I'm usually skeptical about special barrel and single row releases - but this bottling is a marked difference from their already brilliant standard release (and, at over twice the price, should be). (Tasting notes from 9/12).

outstanding.