Oakville Cabernet Franc

Grandes Dames tasting. My 3rd, Group 1st. Olives, Mineral, raspberries. Jammy flavors, full feel. Fast

Detert Cabernet Franc. To-Kalon fruit. Dark cherry, plum, spice, medium-bodied. Drinking window is now. 20 minutes in the glass & it’s ready to go.

Oakville proper. Bang next to Macdonald.....

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.

It was a true treat to try this next to the East Block. There is a fresh factor here that stands out. More of an herbal component is able to come out and pairs beautifully with dusty/chalky tannins. A mix of ripe red and black fruits, smoked cedar, tobacco and black tea are present here with a blend of baking and herbal spices. I’d hold this for a few years. All the stuffing to be even better than it is now. We were also able to taste the 2008 and it is in its prime! Buy it!

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

Fantastic. Rich, dark cherries, touches of herbs. Soft tannins and a beautiful finish.

Fridays are for Franc! And I. LOVE. THIS. WINE. I could not believe the aromatics that exploded from the bottle when I pulled the cork. Seriously it was like there was a blueberry pie baking in the kitchen. Decanted for an hour or so. Deep magenta in the glass. Loads of Cherry and blueberry on the palate mingle with vanilla, chocolate, herbs, and earth - very rich, but so incredibly balanced at the same time. I’ve been a longtime fan of Detert wines and this very well may be my favorite vintage of their Franc to date. I’m just wowed. Can’t wait to revisit this again and see how it evolves. Really well done @Tom Garrett (as always).

This definitely had a major transformation over a few hours. Started out completely herbaceous and savory, but with some time the fruit came forward and balanced out the flavors.

The nose is spicy with notes of anise, clove, leather. Black cherry and anise on the palate along with wet stone and integrated, soft tannins. Medium bodied with great acidity. I usually like more fruit-forwardness in my wine, but this balance worked for me.

Brambles, black fruit, mint, leather.

First red wine and definitely not one of the three Heitz Cellars wines in our blind tasting. The darkness on the nose and palate fall in line.

Deep garnet red with a touch of ruby in the core. Tight to start with only one distinguishable note of super dark cocoa. Took a bit to open in the glass with some chalk, cherry tomatoes and cassis. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Well rounded on the palate with some aged and oaky characteristics. Toasty, vanilla, dark cocoa, black fruits, a little spice, black cherries, and other dark fruits. Well integrated and medium plus to long finish. Would like to try a younger one of these. Drink till 2021.