Napa Valley Cabernet Franc

Wow. This is incredible. The nose is phenomenal with soft red fruit, barnyardy crap (in a good way, I’m serious), and a sweet herbaciousness that is out of this world.. it reminds me of my favorite cocktail, The Last Word, where the green chartreuse sticks out. Palate is firm but balanced, chewy fruit. Awesome.

Jesus this is good. Feather light but full of dark berries, fresh fennel & spice.

As great as this was, I would have preferred my husband not open it within days of picking it up. Luckily I stashed away another bottle.

Very Loire like than napa/Bordeaux like

The nose is quite fascinating. There is a tiny green bell pepper note that is familiar, but I smell cherry coke, strawberry, a bit of hay, some black pepper too. The palate was austere and super dry at first but it opened up after a while. I had a first glass before our evening meal and I can see a real difference with meat balls and brocoli in soy sauce. There is a good acid drive, some cherry cola and strawberry notes, a very soft and caressing mouthfeel, some gentle tannins in the rear, before a long, rather dry finish with the same fruit notes and a discreet final bitter touch. A rather lean, not extracted, fruity yet structured example of cabernet franc. I would not have guessed it blind as it's quite different from loire valley expressions I know. Good stuff, have it with food though.

PnP. Maroon and slight purple color. Flowers, oak, and something I can’t put my finger on yet. Same on the palate with some sourness. Medium minus depth and finish.

More interesting than good. Quite bitter. Not very giving. Nice acid and I appreciate what they are going for, but I think a miss overall.

smooth, soft, light, mellow nose, light color, acid low...prefer a stronger cab franc.

Even better on the 2nd night.

Another home run from Matthiasson and co. Phenomenal Cab Franc, need a case of this ASAP.