These wines were tasted 8/12/06 at the tasting bar at Red Carpet Wines in Glendale, CA.

A couple general comments: This was my first time tasting a series of California Cab Francs. My previous experiences with this varietal have either been Loire reds, or occasional, isolated encounters with CA Meritage wines with a heavy dose of Cab Franc in the blend. My main impression was that these wines were all made in a very well-oaked, high-alcohol, extracted style. It was difficult to tell any of them apart from Cali Cabernet Sauvignons.

Also, all of them showed a certain degree of "mocha on the midpalate". They really did, honest, scout's honor, I kid you not. The fact that I had been drinking Starbuck's coffee on the drive to the tasting might have had something to do with that.

2004 Stepping Stone Cabernet Franc Rutherford: The second wine label of Cornerstone, and a brand that's fast gaining a reputation for good value. This wine certainly did not disappoint from a QPR perspective. Dark purple hue, good extract on nose, spicy vanillin oak melding w/cassis, blackberry & cigar box. On palate, jammy, well-oaked, spicy, tobacco gradually creeps out on med-length, low-acid finish. Only $18. My 87 point score was very conservative; I was somewhat overly cautious scoring as this was the first wine of the flight. A range of 87-90 is probably about right.

2002 Girard Cabernet Franc Napa Valley: Dark plum hue w/faint brick. Big, exuberant nose of currant, sweet oak, spicy earth. On palate, spicy, complex, long, w/mocha, cassis & big tannins, finishing long & a bit dusty. 89 pts./$35.50

2002 Ruston Cabernet Franc Stagecoach Vineyard: Plum/ruby hue. Nose not big but meaty & complex, lush fruit, cocoa & spice box on palate, currants & raspberry, light on its feet, smooth tannins, finishing a bit short. Delicious on the attack, but needs more oomph on the back end. 88 pts./$37

2003 Trespass Cabernet Franc Napa Valley: Dark berry-jam hue, 15.6 alc., nose w/big dark-berry fruit, earth & tobacco, palate quite soft, too much heat, not much finish. 85 pts./$40

2002 Trespass Cab Franc Napa Valley: A much more complete and harmonious vintage of Trespass. Opaque, black w/ruby edge. Deep, layered jam on nose, extracted dense palate, carries well on fihish, well-structured, packed w/berries, jam & toasty oak. 91 pts., but alas no longer available at Red Carpet.

2003 Detert Family Cabernet Franc Napa Valley: Also sold out at the store, what a shame! Almost black hue, sweet jammy nose, fruit bomb all the way. Chocolate & boysenberry ganache on palate w/mouthcoating tannins, carrying through on dark, sweet finish. 91 pts.

2002 Soter Cabernet Franc Little Creek: This Oregon winery is building a good reputation for Pinot Noir, but what's a $75 Napa Cab Franc doing in the portfolio? Elegant fruit & some spice aromas. Sweet fruit is somewhat understated. Tasty, has finesse, but nothing remarkable, finishing a bit short. 88 pts.

2003 Selene "Chesler" Napa Valley Red Wine: A Bordeaux-style blend whose composition changes quite a bit from year to year - this vintage it's a whopping 84% Cab Franc. Dense, dark hue, lavish, seductive aromas of cassis, mocha, ripe tobacco, layered & lush. Spicy, jammy w/refreshing acidity that helps it carry through. Good size & grip but lovely balance.
I was feeling generous with the scores at this point, but this really is one of the best wines I've had of this type. 95 pts; a 92-95 range is probably appropriate here. $75.

Please attempt to locate some Pride CF 2003 and some DelDotto. I'd be interested in your observations.

Dick

you might also want to try cadence winery's 2003 belcanto (up here in WA) - i believe it is made up of primarily cab franc and is quite good.

I have seen the stepping stone and you have made me want to buy it.

Another overlooked N.V. Cab. Franc is Chapellet's. It's typically very nice. Hard to find though. I think mostly only sold at the winery.

Thanks for the notes...

quote:

Originally posted by -:
I have seen the stepping stone and you have made me want to buy it.

And then it would become a "stepping-stone", I guess.

Good juice, but don't expect anything like a Chinon, though. It verges on off-dry.