Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cakebread Cellars 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
American Red
Fresh smoky cassis, blackberry and boysenberry appear with cedar, black-tea spice and sweet oak. The palate is concentrated, with black fruit, firm structure and a long savoury finish. The blend is seventy-eight percent Cabernet Sauvignon, sixteen percent Merlot, four percent Cabernet Franc and two percent Malbec. Fermentation took place in stainless steel, followed by twenty months in French oak, thirty-five percent new. Alcohol is 14.2 percent.
Nittardi 2021 Ad Astra Maremma Toscana Rosso DOC 1.5 L
Italian Red
Plum and red-berry aromas are joined by liquorice. The blend combines Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, followed by twelve months in French-oak barriques and tonneaux and several months in concrete. The vineyards lie at Mongibello delle Mandorlaie in southern Maremma, on predominantly sandy soils rich in limestone and clay.
Fairview Cellars 2011 The Bear Okanagan Valley
Canadian Red
Medium ruby-purple colour accompanies ripe cherry and liquorice. The wine is dry, with medium-plus acidity and full, ripe tannins. Cherry, plum, cassis, spice and tobacco appear, with a long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the blend, joined by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Mint, blackcurrant and spicy cherry are also present. Production totalled three hundred cases.
CedarCreek 2013 Platinum The Last Word
Canadian Red
Dark liquorice, black cherry, cooked plum and graphite appear across the profile. Cassis, wild blackberry, spice-box notes and anise are also present, with bright acidity, structurally sound tannins and a warm finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec were co-fermented for one month. The blend then spent twenty months in French oak. The fruit comes from Osoyoos in the Okanagan Valley.
Château Cantemerle 2022 Haut-Médoc
French Red
Bright fresh fruit and violet are present in the bouquet. The palate has soft tannins, creamy structure and a smooth texture, with harmony and balance. The blend is seventy percent Cabernet Sauvignon, twenty percent Merlot, and five percent each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine matures for twelve months in French oak, using new, one-fill and two-fill barrels. The vines grow on gravel with quaternary silica.
Mvemve Raats 2014 MR de Compostella
South African Red
Green herbs, peppercorn, laurel, blackcurrant leaf and plum skin are present. Ripe plum and berry flavours accompany fine tannins with a pronounced dusty grip and a long, dry finish. The colour is deep ruby. Mineral, dark berry and dark chocolate notes are also present. Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot make up the blend.
Sequoia Grove 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
American Red
Bright black cherry, blackberry, baking spices, chocolate and toasted vanilla are present. The palate has intense blackberry flavours and round, smooth tannins. The blend is eighty-three percent Cabernet Sauvignon, eight percent Merlot, six percent Cabernet Franc, and one percent each Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Grapes are hand-picked and the berries hand-sorted. A one-to-three-day cold soak precedes fermentation. Maturation lasts twenty months in French oak, half new.
Château Mauvinon 2020 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
French Red
Black cherry, plum, hazelnut, chocolate and dried flowers are present in the aromas. Blackberry and liquorice appear on the palate. The profile is structured and intense, with powerful, silky tannins and a long, smoky finish. The blend is seventy percent Merlot and thirty percent Cabernet Franc. Grapes are hand-picked and sorted. Vinification uses small containers; maturation lasts twelve months in French oak, with half of the barrels renewed.
Château Croizet-Bages 2016 Pauillac
French Red
The blend is fifty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon, forty-one percent Merlot and four percent Cabernet Franc. Vinification takes place in stainless-steel tanks, with malolactic fermentation in barrels and tanks. Maturation lasts twelve months in French oak, half of it new. Plum preserves, baked black cherry, cassis, menthol, cigar and cumin notes accompany plush tannins and a long, spicy finish.
Merryvale Vineyards 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
American Red
Plum, blackberry and cherry accompany leather and granite-like mineral detail. Lively acidity, soft tannins, a velvety texture and a long finish are present. The blend is eighty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon, ten percent Cabernet Franc and five percent Merlot. Native-yeast fermentation follows a five-day cold soak in small tanks. Maturation lasts twenty-two months in French oak, with fifty percent new barrels, before bottling without fining or filtration.
Duckhorn 2004 Three Palms Vineyard Merlot Napa Valley
American Red
Red fruit, dried herbs, allspice, vanilla bean and dust accompany ripe strawberry, dried cherry, toasted oak, chocolate and spice. The texture is velvety, with bright acidity and firm, well-integrated tannins. The blend is seventy-five percent Merlot, ten percent Cabernet Sauvignon, nine percent Petit Verdot, five percent Cabernet Franc and one percent Malbec. Maturation lasts twenty months in new sixty-gallon French oak barrels. The wine contains 14.5 percent alcohol.
Duckhorn 2003 Three Palms Vineyard Merlot Napa Valley
American Red
Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, black olive, almond and spice accompany red fruit, cedar and oak. The texture is silky, with balanced acidity and ample tannins in a smooth, full-bodied profile. The blend is seventy-five percent Merlot, eleven percent Cabernet Sauvignon, seven percent Petit Verdot and seven percent Cabernet Franc. Maturation lasts twenty months in new sixty-gallon French oak barrels. The grapes were harvested over six days in September.
Robert Mondavi Winery 2019 The Estates Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
American Red
Blackberry, blueberry, plum, chocolate, nutmeg and subtle oak accompany black plum and fine, well-integrated tannins. The profile is juicy, with good acidity. The blend is eighty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon, six percent Cabernet Franc, six percent Petit Verdot, two percent Malbec and one percent Merlot. Maturation lasts twenty months in French oak barrels, with ninety percent new oak. The wine contains 15.3 percent alcohol.
St. Supéry 2013 Élu Napa Valley Red
American Red
Vibrant deep red and purple colour accompanies black plum, blackberry, anise, graphite, dark cocoa, espresso and toasted barrel. Cassis, black pepper and black liquorice are also present, with length and fine-grained tannins. The blend is sixty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon, twenty-two percent Merlot and nine percent Malbec, with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot making up the balance.
Col Solare 2016 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
American Red
Black cherry, currant, cinnamon and rose petal appear with vanilla and milk chocolate. Rich refined tannins accompany berry, dried-fruit and cocoa flavours. The blend is ninety-four percent Cabernet Sauvignon and six percent Cabernet Franc. The wine spent twenty-two months in entirely new French oak. Fruit came from three Red Mountain vineyards, and production totalled 5,962 cases.
Osoyoos Larose 2010 Le Grand Vin Okanagan Valley
Canadian Red
Cassis and vanilla appear with bright blackcurrant, blueberry and cherry flavours. Fine tannins and a generous texture are present in an ample, rich palate. The blend is sixty-seven percent Merlot, twenty percent Cabernet Sauvignon, six percent Petit Verdot, four percent Cabernet Franc and three percent Malbec. This red comes from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley and carries 13.8 percent alcohol.
Le Vieux Pin 2022 Equinoxe Cabernet Franc Okanagan Valley
Canadian Red
Bell-pepper dolmatas, Bing cherry, spicy cigar and rawhide leather appear with complex aromas. The same flavours are present on the palate with focus and clarity, and the finish lasts for more than a minute. Lush fruit intensity, structure, natural acidity and complexity are also present. This Cabernet Franc from the South Okanagan spent twenty-six months in new French oak and carries 14.5 percent alcohol.
Christian Tschida 2011 Hommage
Austrian Red
Cabernet Franc and Syrah make up this dry red wine from Burgenland. It is unfiltered and carries 12.5 percent alcohol. The wine matured for six years in small barrels and was created as a tribute to Austrian painter Alfred Hrdlička. Its producer is based in Illmitz beside Lake Neusiedl and represents the fourth generation of a winemaking family.
Chateau Gloria 2022 Saint-Julien
French Red
Deep garnet colour accompanies fresh redcurrant, peppered chocolate, mineral notes and white pepper. The wine is full-bodied, with rounded fruit, fine tannins and a long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc make up the blend. Grapes are harvested by hand. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, and maturation lasts fourteen months in oak barrels. Alcohol is 13.8 percent.
Chateau Pichon Baron 2018 Les Tourelles de Longueville Pauillac
French Red
Intense ruby colour accompanies very ripe red fruit, black cherry and mild spice. The wine is silky, delicate and smooth, with fresh, harmonious tannins and a persistent finish. The blend is sixty-six percent Merlot, twenty percent Cabernet Sauvignon, eight percent Cabernet Franc and six percent Petit Verdot. Maturation lasts twelve months, using both new barrels and barrels previously used for one vintage.
Château Clerc Milon 2007 Pauillac
French Red
Deep purple colour has violet highlights. Garrigue, blackcurrant, cedar, vanilla and toast appear with fleshy red fruit. The wine is full-bodied, fresh and balanced, with supple, close-knit tannins, oak and mocha, and a long finish. The blend is forty-eight percent Cabernet Sauvignon, forty-two percent Merlot, seven percent Cabernet Franc, two percent Petit Verdot and one percent Carmenère.
Château Langoa Barton 2015 Saint-Julien
French Red
Intense colour accompanies a bouquet of red fruit, undergrowth and tobacco. The texture is fleshy and tight, with spice, tannins, a silky palate and a long, tense finish. The blend is fifty-four percent Cabernet Sauvignon, thirty-eight percent Merlot and eight percent Cabernet Franc. Harvesting is entirely by hand. Alcoholic fermentation lasts seven to ten days, maceration about three weeks, and oak maturation sixteen to eighteen months.
Château Malartic-Lagravière 2005 Pessac-Léognan
French Red
Very deep red-black colour has purple hints. A delicate nose carries ripe red and black fruit, freshness, menthol, violets, blackcurrant, mineral, smoke and roasted notes. The attack is mellow and rich, with a tight, distinguished and vigorous tannic structure. The mid-palate is broad and generous, with fruit, minerality, toast, wood and balance. The blend is fifty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon, forty percent Merlot and five percent Cabernet Franc.
El Gran Enemigo 2020 Gualtallary Cabernet Franc
Argentinian Red
Deep purple colour has red highlights. Sweet spice, black pepper, eucalyptus and thyme appear with ripe black fruit, blackberry, black cherry, chocolate and vanilla. The taste is complex, with sweet impact, structured tannins and a long, persistent finish. The blend is eighty-five percent Cabernet Franc and fifteen percent Malbec, grown on deep, calcareous and rocky soil at about 1,470 metres in Gualtallary.
Silver Oak 2016 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
American Red
Ruby colour and a magenta rim accompany cassis, blackberry, vanilla, sage and spearmint. Potpourri, bramble and raspberry are also present. The finish is juicy, with chewy tannins and medium length. The blend combines 94.6 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, four percent Merlot, and one-half percent each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, with 0.4 percent Malbec. It matured for twenty-four months in American oak, half of it new.
Mission Hill Family Estate 2004 Oculus
Canadian Red
Merlot accounts for seventy-four percent of the blend, joined by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Cedar, cassis and savoury black fruit appear alongside mint, liquorice, black raspberry and bitter chocolate. The wine is medium-bodied, with firm tannins and powerful character. This Bordeaux-inspired red comes from the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and is presented in a 750 mL bottle.
Château Rousselle 2016 Côtes de Bourg 3 L
French Red
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc make up the blend. Red and black fruit include raspberry, blueberry and cherry, alongside liquorice, thyme, rosemary and mineral notes. The wine is supple and smooth, concentrated, fruity, round and full. The finish is notably long, and the average vine age is forty years. This red comes from Côtes de Bourg in Bordeaux.
Osoyoos Larose 2011 Le Grand Vin 1.5 L
Canadian Red
Merlot accounts for forty-eight percent of the blend. The balance is thirty-three percent Cabernet Sauvignon, ten percent Petit Verdot, six percent Cabernet Franc and three percent Malbec. Cassis and spice appear with blackcurrant, mulberry, espresso and dark chocolate. Tannins are polished and firm, and cedar appears on the finish. The listed alcohol is fourteen percent. This red comes from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.
Antinori Guado al Tasso 2008 Bolgheri DOC Superiore
Italian Red
Toasted oak, coffee and spices appear with plum and blackcurrant. The palate is soft but firm, with acidity, freshness and crispness. Tannins are extremely elegant, and the aftertaste is very persistent, with coffee, berry fruit and toasted oak. The blend includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with Petit Verdot used in a small amount. Barrel ageing lasts eighteen months.
Château Léoville Barton 1999 Saint-Julien
French Red
Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for seventy-two percent of the blend, with twenty-two percent Merlot and six percent Cabernet Franc. The wine has extremely dense colour and a powerful tannic structure. Harvest ran from late September into early October. The end of summer was warm and dry, and the grapes reached full ripeness. Merlot recorded high natural alcohol levels during the vintage.