Brand
Varietal or Proprietary Type Vintage & Appellation
$ price - alcohol content

La Jota
1988 Cabernet Franc
Napa "Howell Mountain"
$30. - ?%

Deep ruby color with a hint of garnet; attractive aroma mingles pine, orange peel, spice, licorice, violets, berries, oak; elegant, well-integrated, round, slightly oaky flavors, could use more fruit; balanced, slightly tart (bitter?); assertive tannins, astringent; long, pleasant finish. Excellent showing of a well-cellared wine.

Justin
1996 Cabernet Franc
Paso Robles
$29. - 14.1%

Deep plum color; big aroma, complex with plum, bell pepper, roasty-toasty, tar, coconut, American oak (too oaky?), fruity, aromatic (ethyl acetate?); rich, ripe flavors (overripe?) are similar, somewhat disjointed; balance is quite tart, snappy; smooth tannins in a tart, pleasant finish. Cellar time may help bring this together. [100% varietal, 41 months in American oak]

Sinskey
1995 Cabernet Franc
Carneros, Napa
$27. - 14.1%

Deep plum color; complex, cedar, vanilla, tar, earth, spice, salami, oak, very ripe, port-like (some ethyl acetate?); tight, extracted fruit, juicy, spicy, somewhat hard, hollow flavors; very good balance; drying tannins, but not big. Overblown style, but very well done. [1000 cases produced]

Ravenswood
1998 Cabernet Franc
Sonoma County
$12.50 - 13.6%

Deep plum color; young, grapey, cassis, rich, deep blackberry fruit, clean (albeit two comments of faint earthy or yeastiness); big monster, youthful, very ripe, pleasant cherry fruit flavors, dominated by tannins; long, but slightly rough finish (stemmy?). Much improved with food, might improve with cellaring.

Pepperwood Grove
1998 Cabernet Franc
California
$6. - 12.5%

Medium plum-garnet color; vanilla, cassis, faintly tarry, smoky, herbal-bordering on vegetal, spicy (older?); big cassis fruit flavor, somewhat jammy, not varietal (tastes more like a blend than other wines), some stemminess; medium body, some richness; good balance, faintly tart; soft tannins, short finish. Pleasant, but not varietally distinctive.

Cosentino
1998 Cabernet Franc
Napa Valley
$35. - 14.5%

Deep ruby-plum color; complex, licorice, plums, spicy, vanilla, perfumey, sweet wood, oak; simple flavors are oaky, similar to nose, rich, fair depth; medium-full body; balance okay (too sweet?); fairly soft tannins; slight heat and bitterness in long finish. [unfined, hand punched-cap, open fermentation]

Gundlach-Bundschu
1998 Cabernet Franc
Sonoma Valley
$15. - 14.0%

Deep ruby color; clean, attractive, ripe, sweet, young, subdued blackberry, cherry fruit, with cocoa, some toasty, smoky hints; good flavors, similar to nose, woody, slightly hollow in middle; fairly well-balanced; medium body; gripping tannins; medium-long finish. Taste improved noticeably with food.

Ch. Cheval Blanc
1981 St. Emilion
(French Bordeaux)
$115. to $225. (current)

Deep garnet with brickish edge; initially closed in, complex, cocoa powder, herbs, bell pepper, with a slightly gamey (brett?), earthy element, slightly woody; rich, warm, leathery flavors; medium tannins; good balance, slightly lean; long, drying finish. [approx. 66% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 20 months in barrels]

Ch. Cheval Blanc
1985 St. Emilion
(French Bordeaux)
$185. to $460. (current)

Deep garnet with brickish edge; subtle plum fruit, opulent, complex with herbs, spice, bacon fat, bell pepper, pine, earth, brettanomyces, some leesy elements; gamey, cumin, caramel and earthy, brett flavors dominate lean fruit; good balance, faintly tart; soft, smooth, short, earthy finish (tired?). [approx. 66% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 20 months in barrels]

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This Panel included Regulars Roy, Marlene, Jon, Ray, Jim, Ron, & James

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About Cabernet Franc