Isenhower Cellars
Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc
Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Columbia Valley, 413 cases produced. Aging is about right, flavors of cola and spearmint with a mildly tannic finish, alongside some blackberry, raspberry and cherry. 30% new French oak is apparent in nose and mouth and just in balance, with decent acid and just a lingering aftertaste of white pepper. Grapes from Wallula and Dineen Vineyards, 51/49 split.
Columbia Valley, 413 cases produced. Aging is about right, flavors of cola and spearmint with a mildly tannic finish, alongside some blackberry, raspberry and cherry. 30% new French oak is apparent in nose and mouth and just in balance, with decent acid and just a lingering aftertaste of white pepper. Grapes from Wallula and Dineen Vineyards, 51/49 split.
Jun 2nd, 2024Horse Heaven Hills, 400 cases made. Ruby red, moderate pigment extraction, very good clarity. Raspberry aroma, plum, cola, raspberry and sweet cherry flavors with white pepper on finish. Fine seed tannins. Well balanced, dry but fruity, slightly syrupy impression though it’s not mouthfeel or viscosity. Tasty stuff here
Horse Heaven Hills, 400 cases made. Ruby red, moderate pigment extraction, very good clarity. Raspberry aroma, plum, cola, raspberry and sweet cherry flavors with white pepper on finish. Fine seed tannins. Well balanced, dry but fruity, slightly syrupy impression though it’s not mouthfeel or viscosity. Tasty stuff here
Oct 22nd, 2023Purple red, highly extracted pigment. Red fruit, raspberry aromas, raspberry, plum, cola, herb flavors, mint and wintergreen finish. Aftertaste of medium seed tannins and some chewy skin astringency. Ageworthy. Vintage after vintage, one of my favorite Washington state reds, if not my favorite
Purple red, highly extracted pigment. Red fruit, raspberry aromas, raspberry, plum, cola, herb flavors, mint and wintergreen finish. Aftertaste of medium seed tannins and some chewy skin astringency. Ageworthy. Vintage after vintage, one of my favorite Washington state reds, if not my favorite
Jun 23rd, 2023Revisiting vintage. Columbia Valley, 367 cases made and alas, my last bottle. Graphite and white pepper notes remain in mouth, fruit takes more time to emerge. A day later, plum and cherry fruit leather flavors, muted, emerge. Any fresh blueberry flavors in earlier pourings are gone. An interesting wine but quite different now.
Revisiting vintage. Columbia Valley, 367 cases made and alas, my last bottle. Graphite and white pepper notes remain in mouth, fruit takes more time to emerge. A day later, plum and cherry fruit leather flavors, muted, emerge. Any fresh blueberry flavors in earlier pourings are gone. An interesting wine but quite different now.
Feb 2nd, 2022367 cases produced, paired with rosemary peppercorn dark chocolate truffle. Purple in color, light to moderately extracted, Blueberry and earth note in nose with a hint of phenol. Graphite, cherry and spice flavors, mild skin and seed tannins. Grapes from three Columbia Valley vineyards, 100% Cabernet Franc. Finesse here
367 cases produced, paired with rosemary peppercorn dark chocolate truffle. Purple in color, light to moderately extracted, Blueberry and earth note in nose with a hint of phenol. Graphite, cherry and spice flavors, mild skin and seed tannins. Grapes from three Columbia Valley vineyards, 100% Cabernet Franc. Finesse here
Feb 15th, 2019I love this wine, year after year. Densely extracted, deep purple-red. White pepper, black currant, mint, mushroom (well, Chinese black fungus is better, but not so familiar to most, so close enough) and other herbal notes in nose. White pepper, berry, maybe blackberry flavors, soft mouthfeel, tart seed bitterness, berry in finish. Some skin astringency and white pepper in aftertaste. Love the complexity; flavors are expressive and varietally on point. I’m not sure if further flavor integration with aging is possible, nor if further aging can improve on the current acid-alcohol-tannin balance. But that may just reflect the fact I drink up my wines too quickly to age them sufficiently. After their Jongleur-Petit Verdot, this is my favorite red of theirs. Also note how different the tasting notes are for this vs. a year ago. Is it just me, or are the wine dynamics really changing that much?
I love this wine, year after year. Densely extracted, deep purple-red. White pepper, black currant, mint, mushroom (well, Chinese black fungus is better, but not so familiar to most, so close enough) and other herbal notes in nose. White pepper, berry, maybe blackberry flavors, soft mouthfeel, tart seed bitterness, berry in finish. Some skin astringency and white pepper in aftertaste. Love the complexity; flavors are expressive and varietally on point. I’m not sure if further flavor integration with aging is possible, nor if further aging can improve on the current acid-alcohol-tannin balance. But that may just reflect the fact I drink up my wines too quickly to age them sufficiently. After their Jongleur-Petit Verdot, this is my favorite red of theirs. Also note how different the tasting notes are for this vs. a year ago. Is it just me, or are the wine dynamics really changing that much?
Sep 28th, 2018Purple red in color. Mint blueberry pepper and herb in nose. Blueberry red fruit fig and black pepper note in mouth. Bright with some skin tannin mouthfeel
Purple red in color. Mint blueberry pepper and herb in nose. Blueberry red fruit fig and black pepper note in mouth. Bright with some skin tannin mouthfeel
Aug 21st, 2016
2018 vintage is dark fruit scented. Plummy & cherry notes on the front end with a clean finish
2018 vintage is dark fruit scented. Plummy & cherry notes on the front end with a clean finish
Apr 27th, 2021
