Ravines Wine Cellars

Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc

8.9254 ratings
8.951 pro ratings
Finger Lakes, New York, USA
Cabernet Franc
Exotic Spices, Baking Spices, Hard Cheese, Blue Cheese, Chili & Hot Spicy, Pungent Cheese, Potato, White Rice, Herbs, Tomato-Based, Pasta, Mushrooms, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Beef, Soft Cheese, Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Pork, Duck, Venison
Top Notes For
Roger Cabrera

I disagree with most reviews here indicating this wine needs a couple years. This was an unremarkable Cabernet franc that time will not fix. I would be curious to experience this again if perhaps they had a barrel where they tossed half a dozen egg whites to precipitate out some of the poorly integrate tannin. The alcohol was also very hot and in its own lane. Curious to try other vintages in case this example was an anomaly. As it stands, this was the equivalent of scrolling in between radio stations—unclear of what it is, and what it wants to communicate. Unfaulted and unremarkable.

I disagree with most reviews here indicating this wine needs a couple years. This was an unremarkable Cabernet franc that time will not fix. I would be curious to experience this again if perhaps they had a barrel where they tossed half a dozen egg whites to precipitate out some of the poorly integrate tannin. The alcohol was also very hot and in its own lane. Curious to try other vintages in case this example was an anomaly. As it stands, this was the equivalent of scrolling in between radio stations—unclear of what it is, and what it wants to communicate. Unfaulted and unremarkable.

Sep 3rd, 2023
Meg Herring

This would be so legit for Thanksgiving. Actually maybe I will serve it for Thanksgiving!

This would be so legit for Thanksgiving. Actually maybe I will serve it for Thanksgiving!

Oct 9th, 2020
John Riddick

Rich style, good oak influence. Missing some vegetal notes that I love so much about Cab Franc. Overall enjoyable.

Rich style, good oak influence. Missing some vegetal notes that I love so much about Cab Franc. Overall enjoyable.

Aug 4th, 2020
Peter Sultan

Last glass left sense that could use decant and or some years in bottle. Medium bodied, Strong blackberry fruited but that last glass has some menthol & bay leaf notes.

Last glass left sense that could use decant and or some years in bottle. Medium bodied, Strong blackberry fruited but that last glass has some menthol & bay leaf notes.

Mar 8th, 2020
Severn Goodwin

Nose has dehydrated black cherry, graphite, blackberry jam, faint prune, light green herbs and touch of alcohol on the finish.

Palate has blackberry/black cherry mash, cedar, powdered milk chocolate, light savory notes (like a hint of tomato paste?) and ripe cranberry. Medium-light tannins.

Continuing on our Ravines Wine Cellars theme for today brought us to this beautiful CF tonight. Many years to go still, but in a nice spot this evening after ~3hr decant. Future bottles should be 2024+ at a minimum.

A very enjoyable pair tonight with some local grass fed beef, Denver steaks, good stuff, look it up. Slow and low on the grill until just before finishing, then off to the wicked hot side for a great sear. Know your farmer and ask for these cuts, no disappointing... We're lucky to live in a great agrarian area of far western MA and eastern NY where things like this can be found with some light stone turning.

Nose has dehydrated black cherry, graphite, blackberry jam, faint prune, light green herbs and touch of alcohol on the finish.

Palate has blackberry/black cherry mash, cedar, powdered milk chocolate, light savory notes (like a hint of tomato paste?) and ripe cranberry. Medium-light tannins.

Continuing on our Ravines Wine Cellars theme for today brought us to this beautiful CF tonight. Many years to go still, but in a nice spot this evening after ~3hr decant. Future bottles should be 2024+ at a minimum.

A very enjoyable pair tonight with some local grass fed beef, Denver steaks, good stuff, look it up. Slow and low on the grill until just before finishing, then off to the wicked hot side for a great sear. Know your farmer and ask for these cuts, no disappointing... We're lucky to live in a great agrarian area of far western MA and eastern NY where things like this can be found with some light stone turning.

Jul 14th, 2019
Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.6

Mineral, bracing, feather light, awesome food wine

Mineral, bracing, feather light, awesome food wine

5 people found it helpfulOct 17th, 2014
Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.3

Tasted blind, which helps avoid my snooty biases. Love. There is something northern-Italian about the slightly bitter, tannic component to the balance. Pretty cherry fruit. Delicious. Amazing value.

Tasted blind, which helps avoid my snooty biases. Love. There is something northern-Italian about the slightly bitter, tannic component to the balance. Pretty cherry fruit. Delicious. Amazing value.

4 people found it helpfulFeb 22nd, 2015
Michael Gorton Jr

Sometimes, a few days is all a bottle needs to unwind. Leftover from New Year's Day. A delight. Graceful, expressive and focused. Showing tart cherries and fresh turned earth, a dusting coca powder and dried herbs with just the right amount of spice. The tannins have relaxed. While they were tight and kept hold of the freshmess, it is now showing as if just opened. If you have a few of these in your cellar, hold and hide. You will be rewarded in a few years from now. #flxwine #nyswine #nydrinksny #drinklocal #wine #cabernetfranc

Sometimes, a few days is all a bottle needs to unwind. Leftover from New Year's Day. A delight. Graceful, expressive and focused. Showing tart cherries and fresh turned earth, a dusting coca powder and dried herbs with just the right amount of spice. The tannins have relaxed. While they were tight and kept hold of the freshmess, it is now showing as if just opened. If you have a few of these in your cellar, hold and hide. You will be rewarded in a few years from now. #flxwine #nyswine #nydrinksny #drinklocal #wine #cabernetfranc

2 people found it helpfulJan 4th, 2016
Matthew Peterson

Sommelier Post Ranch Inn, Wine Director Big Sur Food & Wine Festival, Sales Swirl Wine Brokers, Martine's Wines, Winewise

8.9

Yum! Haven't had many finger lakes wines an this one made my night!

Yum! Haven't had many finger lakes wines an this one made my night!

2 people found it helpfulAug 23rd, 2013
Tom Casagrande

Very closed nose at the moment, but what is showing is very Loire-like notes of machine oil on top of some pure cherry fruit and some dried leather. In the mouth it’s fairly intense and a little on the austere side, but you can sense that there’s some nice concentration that’s wanting to come out. Needs some time to collect itself but I like the raw materials.

Very closed nose at the moment, but what is showing is very Loire-like notes of machine oil on top of some pure cherry fruit and some dried leather. In the mouth it’s fairly intense and a little on the austere side, but you can sense that there’s some nice concentration that’s wanting to come out. Needs some time to collect itself but I like the raw materials.

1 person found it helpfulOct 29th, 2022