November: Cab Franc for Wine Focus!

[David Raccah]

I know kosher wines are not so available but I will be enjoying up to 5 or 6 of them this weekend, God willing - these are on the docket, not sure which ones to enjoy...

1) 2007 Gush Etzion Cabernet Franc
2) 2006 Recanati Cabernet Franc Reserve
3) 2006 Four Gates Cabernet Franc
4) 2006 Tanya Bracha Mount Reserve
5) 2006 Ella Valley Cabernet Franc
6) 2007 Ella Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc
7) 2007 Hagafen Cabernet Franc Estate Bottled Napa Valley

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Bravo David, look forward to your thoughts.

[David Raccah]

Man - took me way too long to get this puupy written up. The dinner was a total blast, we went through seven Francs.

http://kosherwinemusings.com/2011/12/16 ... anc-wines/

The clear winner was the 2007 Ella Valley Cabernet Franc which edged out the 2006 Four Gates Franc by a nose.

There was very few true franc flavors, more ripe black and red fruit than green notes. LOTS of tobacco and chocolate. Chocolate, I guess is oak driven,. but is the tobacco, a mixture of the oak and grape?

Finally, loved the mixture of cedar versus oak. The three California wines had a mix of Cedar versus Oak, as did the four Israeli wines.

Cool and fun "horizontal"
David

[Jenise]

David, I would agree with your conclusions, that the chocolate came from oak but that the tobacco is more about the grape. CF usually brings something herbal and savory and green to the table, and tobacco is certainly all that. Nice line-up. Where do you buy your Kosher wines, anyway--are there good sources in the Bay area? Sure isn't much up here. And of course, I'm not Jewish, but I love trying wines from all over and after Daniel Rogov and company joined this forum, I made an effort to locate Israeli wines up here. Not much luck.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

That is a pretty decent write-up, lots of debate I guess. All this chocolate is disturbing imo, not a big fan here. It would have been of interest to include a ringer from say Baudry?

[ChaimShraga]

David,

You thought the Hagefen was going downhill and still gave it a B+, and the winner of the tasting got an A-? What was the Hagefen at its peak, an A?

See why scoring is silly?

[David Raccah]

Sory missed much of this debate as I was heads down at work - so one by one:

1) Agree that Tobacco can indeed be a green note, but I was hoping for more of what I had in the past from Four Gates CF. The 2007 CF from Four Gates, which is NOT yet released, shows far more varietal characteristics.

2) Options here are slim, I buy all kosher wine online, or from the wineries themselves, which there are four in California. There are TONS of online stores where you can buy almost any Israeli wine out there, as more and more are being imported now a days.

3) I agree on the chocolate being annoying, I will say that it was never in your face, but it was there - without question.

4) AHH! Chaim, why did you not hook up with me when you were in the area in August? Anyway, the hagafen is going down from where it was, which was a solid A-. I will not deny that the mouth on this wine was enjoyable, but the nose is shot. Many out there in the drinking public could care less, but I have an issue with a wine that has a very good mouth and no nose at all! Wine is to be enjoyed with ALL your senses, or at least the main three in subject here.

As of the subject of scoring - I will not drag this thread down with that discussion. There are those in the scoring camp and those not in it - I will leave it there.

David

[Darby Higgs]

Just caught up with this thread. Cabernet franc is fairly widely grown in Australia, but it is unfortunately too much in the shadow of Cabernet Sauvignon. There has been a bit of a trend towards making varietal Cab franc wines over recent years and I have about 60 wineries listed on my database as making varietal Cabernet franc. In Australia that means it must be at least 85% of that variety. Many more wineries use some Cab franc in "Bordeaux-style" blends. The fruit flavour profile of Cab franc is more suited to lighter bodied wines, and as the trend away from big reds continues we may see even more interest in the variety - I certainly hope so.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Darby, welcome. I am happy to say we have Paracombe CF up here in Alberta!

[Tim York]

Just caught up with this thread. Cabernet franc is fairly widely grown in Australia, but it is unfortunately too much in the shadow of Cabernet Sauvignon. There has been a bit of a trend towards making varietal Cab franc wines over recent years and I have about 60 wineries listed on my database as making varietal Cabernet franc. In Australia that means it must be at least 85% of that variety. Many more wineries use some Cab franc in "Bordeaux-style" blends. The fruit flavour profile of Cab franc is more suited to lighter bodied wines, and as the trend away from big reds continues we may see even more interest in the variety - I certainly hope so.

Hi Darby,

In what part of Australia is Cabernet franc being grown? IMO it is more suited to cooler climates and can become over-scented and flabby in warmer areas, witness certain examples I have had from California and Languedoc. Tasmania might be a good place if the soils are right.