Wm. Harrison Vineyards & Winery (William Harrison)
Napa Valley Cabernet Franc
Breakfast maple waffles nose. Astringency and dark red cherries. Well developed, buxom, full-fruit bite. Earthy rhubarb and plum.
Breakfast maple waffles nose. Astringency and dark red cherries. Well developed, buxom, full-fruit bite. Earthy rhubarb and plum.
Dec 14th, 2018@Mark Flesher and I did a quick side by side tasting of two 2014 Napa Valley Cab francs tonight and it’s always such a joy to try wines side by side that are the same in one respect, but can differ so greatly!
I opened a bottle of ‘14 Arnyca Cab Franc (I’ve posted a few times, so no need for me to be redundant, but it’s a killer bottle of Cab Franc) while Mark opened this. At pop and pour (and throughout the hour) where the Arnyca was lush and approachable, this had a volcanic type back end note and was very tannic. The fruit was still there, but it was a bit more complex due to the earthy type note. This continued on the palate with a more spicy/peppercorn finish. Changed in the glass quite a bit. This has all the stuffing of a great cab franc (fruit notes of rhubarb, blackberries, and plum, cherry spice, and an herbal/earthy finish) as well as structure and age ability. This is without a doubt the best sub $60 Cab Franc I’ve ever had. 9.3 score, but 9.4 would have happened with more air. Expect this to be 9.5 with 5-7 yrs of age.
@Mark Flesher and I did a quick side by side tasting of two 2014 Napa Valley Cab francs tonight and it’s always such a joy to try wines side by side that are the same in one respect, but can differ so greatly!
I opened a bottle of ‘14 Arnyca Cab Franc (I’ve posted a few times, so no need for me to be redundant, but it’s a killer bottle of Cab Franc) while Mark opened this. At pop and pour (and throughout the hour) where the Arnyca was lush and approachable, this had a volcanic type back end note and was very tannic. The fruit was still there, but it was a bit more complex due to the earthy type note. This continued on the palate with a more spicy/peppercorn finish. Changed in the glass quite a bit. This has all the stuffing of a great cab franc (fruit notes of rhubarb, blackberries, and plum, cherry spice, and an herbal/earthy finish) as well as structure and age ability. This is without a doubt the best sub $60 Cab Franc I’ve ever had. 9.3 score, but 9.4 would have happened with more air. Expect this to be 9.5 with 5-7 yrs of age.
Brought this to Tim's 1-2 mths ago. Drinking the other bottle at home now. Full but not fruity. Good spice.
Brought this to Tim's 1-2 mths ago. Drinking the other bottle at home now. Full but not fruity. Good spice.
1 person found it helpfulDec 1st, 2013Wish I would've showed a little more self control and opened this guy in 2020. Darker side of fruit for most Napa Cab Francs that I run into and this wine was a little rough around the edges, which I welcomed because I sip on well behaved wines very frequently. Dark fruits and a solid sentencing of oak make this wine fall into the category of big, but not burly. Beyond is unique representation of the varietal, its a welcomed interpretation.
Wish I would've showed a little more self control and opened this guy in 2020. Darker side of fruit for most Napa Cab Francs that I run into and this wine was a little rough around the edges, which I welcomed because I sip on well behaved wines very frequently. Dark fruits and a solid sentencing of oak make this wine fall into the category of big, but not burly. Beyond is unique representation of the varietal, its a welcomed interpretation.
Dec 14th, 2014Upon opening i felt it had too much alcohol. This was a misperception. After giving it a half an hour to breathe it balanced out very well. The nose is heavy black currant and bell pepper with creamy vanilla lingering. Great fruit in here lots of over ripe stewed blackberry and dried black currant and dark cherry notes. Slightly smokey with amazing oak flavors. Cinnamon and other baking spices with intense vanilla flavors. Excellent effort.
Upon opening i felt it had too much alcohol. This was a misperception. After giving it a half an hour to breathe it balanced out very well. The nose is heavy black currant and bell pepper with creamy vanilla lingering. Great fruit in here lots of over ripe stewed blackberry and dried black currant and dark cherry notes. Slightly smokey with amazing oak flavors. Cinnamon and other baking spices with intense vanilla flavors. Excellent effort.
Jun 26th, 2014See previous rating. This is as good as it gets!!!!!
See previous rating. This is as good as it gets!!!!!
Nov 25th, 2021William Harrison cabernet franc 2016. Their best cab by far!!!!! I am so happy to have discovered this small family winery. The bouquet is lovely with aromas of dark berry pie. The initial palate brings an immediate flourish of blackberry jam and rhubarb. This is followed by a rush of leather, mineral soil, moss, and oak. The finish then comes dragging in with a beautiful chocolate and spicy finish. This will be perfect with a nice square of Dove dark chocolate. Hang on… Oh yes!!!!! A perfect compliment. It takes a little finesse to make a very good cab Franc and this Family has done an incredible job of it. Im ordering 6 more bottles right now!
William Harrison cabernet franc 2016. Their best cab by far!!!!! I am so happy to have discovered this small family winery. The bouquet is lovely with aromas of dark berry pie. The initial palate brings an immediate flourish of blackberry jam and rhubarb. This is followed by a rush of leather, mineral soil, moss, and oak. The finish then comes dragging in with a beautiful chocolate and spicy finish. This will be perfect with a nice square of Dove dark chocolate. Hang on… Oh yes!!!!! A perfect compliment. It takes a little finesse to make a very good cab Franc and this Family has done an incredible job of it. Im ordering 6 more bottles right now!
Oct 20th, 2021Perfect wine to celebrate getting through a heavy week, with good friends. All is well even in quarantine.
Perfect wine to celebrate getting through a heavy week, with good friends. All is well even in quarantine.
May 30th, 2020One of 4 brought out to Folly Beach SC to do a little early 15rh Anniversary celebrating.... One of the best domestic CFs out there IMO. Very consistently good but needs time. And I dare say at 10 years old, this one probably needs another one or two years before it is at the top. Nose of pink and white wildflowers. Entry with young fig & tobacco. Also black cherry, herbs, and fig. Rather brambly and then a touch acidic on the finish which was a bit of a surprise. I'd probably hold these another year or two, but if you are going to drink them at least give it a couple of hours to decant. I think the entire bottle lasted about twenty minutes for us.......
One of 4 brought out to Folly Beach SC to do a little early 15rh Anniversary celebrating.... One of the best domestic CFs out there IMO. Very consistently good but needs time. And I dare say at 10 years old, this one probably needs another one or two years before it is at the top. Nose of pink and white wildflowers. Entry with young fig & tobacco. Also black cherry, herbs, and fig. Rather brambly and then a touch acidic on the finish which was a bit of a surprise. I'd probably hold these another year or two, but if you are going to drink them at least give it a couple of hours to decant. I think the entire bottle lasted about twenty minutes for us.......
Oct 13th, 2019