Tovuz-Baltiya Cabernet Franc

[Kevin O'Connell]

I didn't drink any wine during my time in Azerbaijan but did pack some home. I wasn't expecting much so also opened an '02 Baudry Franc de Pied as insurance for my '04 Tovuz-Baltiya Cabernet Franc.....I'm such a slave to Caucasian vintages. I only tasted a touch of each the first night as I decided I was suffering from travel palate, I don't know if this is a recognized affliction but nothing tasted properly after the twenty hours of traveling in close quarters with 200 of my newfound friends. My first impressions for the Tovuz was only red fruit with bathroom cleaner on the nose that did blow off with a little airing. The Baudry was red fruit with less than pleasant tarry notes.

The back label of the Tovuz reads, "Produced from ecologically pure young vines cultivated in the areas of Tovouz and of Chamakhi known for their traditional viticulture.", okay. The front label reads, "Co-production France-Azerbaijan", I don't know what that means however. They have quite a website here. , and there is no shortage of pictures of France, the Eiffel Tower and such. I did get a swallow of their Extra XO cognac which was pretty darn good.

So, on day two I was a bit more prepared for this impromptu showdown. The Tovuz bouquet shows some wood now with burnt brown sugar, the taste is slightly rhubarb but more red plum, no wood, with well balanced acidity and very fine tannins. This is good wine. The Baudry is still plagued with a rubbery, tarry note over darker fruit and slightly more body. It also has what I think is perfectly balanced acidity. It is more substantial and suffers from opening too soon I think.

Well, score one for Azerbaijan, the Land of Fire where the oil and gas literally bubble up out of the ground.

Kevin
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