cabernet franc query

R

robert ames

robert ames
i'm looking for wine of merit (per disorderly criteria) that's at least close to 100% cabernet franc from outside the loire valley (and from outside france as well, if possible).

merci and sante!
 
Cab Franc is a widely grown grape among Virginia vintners, and there are some good ones among them. Barboursville CF Reserve, for example, can be surprisingly good, but can require some time. Linden makes very good Virginia reds with CF in them, I think, but it is blended on the Bordeaux model.

FWIW, Barboursville also makes an altogether decent Nebbiolo- based wine. (They are owned by a large Italian wine company).
 
Ian, I spent some time in Charlottesville a few years ago and did enjoy wines from Barboursville. Might have been Cabernet Sauvignon, though.
 
originally posted by robert ames:
cabernet franc queryi'm looking for wine of merit (per disorderly criteria) that's at least close to 100% cabernet franc from outside the loire valley (and from outside france as well, if possible).

merci and sante!
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You would think that Washington state would have one, but I haven't found it yet.
But I've stopped looking.
 
I have never enjoyed VA red wines, though I do like some of the whites. The Linden Cab Franc is OK, but won't remind anyone of any Cab Franc from France or from anywhere else. Like other reds, with exceptions, it has an odd foxy quality to it. I' probably plump for a spoofed CA Cab Franc first.

I second the vote for Quintarelli, but only if you're a hedge fund manager.
 
Barboursville makes a large range of wines, probably 17 or 18 - too many if you ask me. They have a good but Chanel-ized b'x blend ('Octogon'), and a good hefty cab reserve, both of which are expensive. The CF and Sangiovese used to be between $15-$20 and are good. The Pinot Grigio and Viognier are also pleasant.

There was minor brouhaha not to long ago when Bartholomew Broadbent wrote about his father (I think) tasting some of these wines and preferring them to their California cognates.

Some years ago, in a moment of irrational exuberance, I bought a very large bottle of the 2004 CS Reserve, which I'll open with pleasure the next time you visit C'ville.
 
originally posted by robert ames: cabernet franc queryi'm looking for wine of merit (per disorderly criteria) that's at least close to 100% cabernet franc from outside the loire valley (and from outside france as well, if possible).
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Robert, Adobe Road makes a nice Cabernet Franc.

. . . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
I have never enjoyed VA red wines, though I do like some of the whites. The Linden Cab Franc is OK, but won't remind anyone of any Cab Franc from France or from anywhere else. Like other reds, with exceptions, it has an odd foxy quality to it. I' probably plump for a spoofed CA Cab Franc first.

I second the vote for Quintarelli, but only if you're a hedge fund manager.
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Mostly I'm with you, but you should try B'ville. For my money, they have the best VA reds and Jim Law at Linden the best whites.
 
In the FWIW category ('cause it was a number of years ago), Yaniger opened a bottle of White Hall Vineyards CF. White Hall is also in the Charlottesville area.

He got this bottle as a sample. We figured we'd get through a few sips and end up dumping it down the sink. How wrong we were. He and I polished it off in nothing flat. Really nice wine.
 
originally posted by robert ames:
cabernet franc queryi'm looking for wine of merit (per disorderly criteria) that's at least close to 100% cabernet franc from outside the loire valley (and from outside france as well, if possible).

merci and sante!
Click to expand...
Lang & Reed in California - Cab Franc specialists who are Loire fans. Rose' and regular cuvee are 100% CF, Reserve (called Premiere Etage) is 5% Petit Verdot. They also make a St. Emilion style called Right Bank. Good people, good wines.

Stonefly and Keenan in Napa have both made very good Cab Francs, but they are much more Bordelaise in style.
 
I've always liked Linden non-"Chardonnay whites. The Chardonnay's went through a period in which Jim was much too fond of oak and malo, though even those aged well. All of his Chards have surprising aging potential. I've liked his more recent Chardonnays again.

The guy who used to sell him his Glenn Manor grapes has opened his own vineyard and I liked his Sauvignon blanc a year or so ago. Again, I was not a fan of the reds.
 
Steele (and Shooting Star) (CA) makes a lemberger (that's franc, isn't it?).

Horton's (VA) was decent some years ago.

Jackson's Hill (Australia) wine was great but they are hard to find.

Schneider (Long Island) was very good but they are out of business. (Had an older one recently at the cellar and it tasted like St. Nick de Bourg.)
 
Schneider from LI. They are no longer around or might be or he sold it and is buying fruit under the Schneider label. Wait, I know. He sold the vineyards and now just buys fruit. I think. Maybe Joe Dressner knows.

Horton from VA. I had a '93 that was really great.

Vinum from CA. I loved it. Loire style. This was ages ago though. 2002-2003.

I've tasted nothing from WA that even remotely considers attention. They wreck it up there. Owen Roe. Avoid like the plague.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Steele (and Shooting Star) (CA) makes a lemberger (that's franc, isn't it?).

Horton's (VA) was decent some years ago.

Jackson's Hill (Australia) wine was great but they are hard to find.

Schneider (Long Island) was very good but they are out of business. (Had an older one recently at the cellar and it tasted like St. Nick de Bourg.)
Click to expand...

Did not even read your post before I posted. I was 2 for 4.
 
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