Robert Young Estate Winery
Big Rock Block Cabernet Franc
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
As the onslaught of wine arrivals show up, Mark and I decided to open up a fantastic Alexander Valley Cab Franc while at Classic.
This is one of those wines that opens your eyes to what air can do to a wine. At pop and pour, it was very tannic and had a nose and finish of gravel. At 30mins, it started to show some dark fruit, like blackberries as well as currant. At the hour mark, it strutted beautifully! Nose became floral, mainly lavender and violet, and the olive notes left to reveal a very masculine fruit finish. At around $50, this is the best Alexander Valley Cab Franc I’ve ever had, bar none.
As the onslaught of wine arrivals show up, Mark and I decided to open up a fantastic Alexander Valley Cab Franc while at Classic.
This is one of those wines that opens your eyes to what air can do to a wine. At pop and pour, it was very tannic and had a nose and finish of gravel. At 30mins, it started to show some dark fruit, like blackberries as well as currant. At the hour mark, it strutted beautifully! Nose became floral, mainly lavender and violet, and the olive notes left to reveal a very masculine fruit finish. At around $50, this is the best Alexander Valley Cab Franc I’ve ever had, bar none.
Out of 18 bottles purchased, three remain after this one. Guess that is what it takes to hold a wine like this for 6 years past vintage. I continue to be impressed by the Cabernet Franc offering by Robert Young Estate Winery. This wine is probably 5 years away from being a pop and pour. Which means it probably has another 10 to 15 years left. Nose of this one is dried wildflowers and nutmeg. The entry is black cherry and blackberry and still has quite a bit of youthful fruit. Middle is sweet tobacco and black cherry dominated. Finish is a bit dirty. Hint of chocolate. Hint of allspice. Fair amount of black pepper. QUITE a bit of youthful oak tannin. IMO this should be their current release.
Out of 18 bottles purchased, three remain after this one. Guess that is what it takes to hold a wine like this for 6 years past vintage. I continue to be impressed by the Cabernet Franc offering by Robert Young Estate Winery. This wine is probably 5 years away from being a pop and pour. Which means it probably has another 10 to 15 years left. Nose of this one is dried wildflowers and nutmeg. The entry is black cherry and blackberry and still has quite a bit of youthful fruit. Middle is sweet tobacco and black cherry dominated. Finish is a bit dirty. Hint of chocolate. Hint of allspice. Fair amount of black pepper. QUITE a bit of youthful oak tannin. IMO this should be their current release.
Dec 8th, 2018After three hours decanting, this wine was just starting to show its true profile. Amazed at how locked up this wine still is. Yet, even when it matures in 2018-19 and it is closer to a pop and pour, this wine will probably still be "powerfully elegant." This wine is not a full bodied monster. Has a lot of floral perfume out of the glass. Hawthorne? Jasmine? Entry with a lot of acidity, good black cherry and terroir on the entry, with a smoother, more delicate middle that has an herbaceous component -- black licorice and a hint of cherries with Italian herbal notes. Stiff, very YOUNG tannin finish. Overall, very happy, and glad to be finally drinking on the case that I have in storage! Drink from 2019-2026
After three hours decanting, this wine was just starting to show its true profile. Amazed at how locked up this wine still is. Yet, even when it matures in 2018-19 and it is closer to a pop and pour, this wine will probably still be "powerfully elegant." This wine is not a full bodied monster. Has a lot of floral perfume out of the glass. Hawthorne? Jasmine? Entry with a lot of acidity, good black cherry and terroir on the entry, with a smoother, more delicate middle that has an herbaceous component -- black licorice and a hint of cherries with Italian herbal notes. Stiff, very YOUNG tannin finish. Overall, very happy, and glad to be finally drinking on the case that I have in storage! Drink from 2019-2026
Aug 20th, 2017Yum. We were recommended here because I love cab franc, and it certainly was fantastic. Loved the long finish and cloves.
Yum. We were recommended here because I love cab franc, and it certainly was fantastic. Loved the long finish and cloves.
Nov 21st, 2015As always, a great wine from Robert Young.
As always, a great wine from Robert Young.
Oct 17th, 2015