Tag Archives: Cabernet Franc

Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

2 December 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County, California

Cabernet Sauvignon 87%, Merlot 8%, Cabernet Franc 2%, Malbec 2%, Petit Verdot 1%

Purchase Price ~$40 (Gift)

James Suckling 94, Wine & Spirits 92, Robert Parker 90, ElsBob 91

ABV 14.5%

A dense deep ruby with a pale red rim. Full-bodied wine with aromas of cherries, blackberries, with hints of lavender and spice. On the palate, approachable tannins, crisp acidity, and beautiful long finish. A wine made to enjoy with ribeyes and filets.

An excellent fine wine at a slightly elevated price. The wine is hard to find but Beringer still offers it for sale on their website for $24 (half bottle).

Trivia: Knights Valley, originally known as Mallacomes Valley, was granted to José de los Santos Berryessa by the Mexican governor in 1843. In 1853, Thomas B. Knight, a native of Maine and a veteran of the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, purchased much of Berryessa’s ranch. Knight renamed it Rancho Muristood and planted vineyards, fruit trees, and wheat. Mallacomes Valley gradually became known as Knights Valley. After Knight’s death in 1881, the property passed through numerous hands, and much of the land reverted to small farms and cattle ranches. By the mid‑20th century, viticulture returned when Beringer bought large tracts of land in the valley and initially focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals. They released their first Knights Valley wine in 1974.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Cabernet Franc 2021

31 July 2025 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Franc from Finger Lakes, New York, U.S.

Purchase Price: $27.99

ElsBob 89

ABV 12%

A clear medium garnet to a deeper ruby in color, aromas of fresh red fruits, medium-bodied, slightly acidic with balanced, moderate tannins. A nice finish but brief.

A very good table wine at an elevated price. Currently retails from $28-30. Pay the suggested retail for the novelty but a second bottle, probably not.

Trivia: The first known vineyard in the Finger Lakes area was planted by William Bostwick in 1829. In 1860 the Pleasant Valley Wine Company became the first commercial winery in the area, followed soon after by the Taylor Wine Company in the early 1880s (closed 1995). Konstantin Frank planted the first vinifera (European) vines in 1957 in the Finger Lakes and the winery lays claim to some of the oldest vines still producing in the US. In 1982 Finger Lakes AVA was officially recognized. Today over 100 wineries dot the region with Riesling the signature varietal.

Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari 2022

30 June 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux Red Blend from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot

Purchase Price: $139 (Restaurant)

Wine Enthusiast 96, James Suckling 95, Jeb Dunnuck 95, Wine Spectator 93, Decanter 93, Vinous 91, ElsBob 94

ABV 14.5%

A dark red, full-bodied wine with aromas of black fruits, silky tannins, and remarkable balance. The long, enjoyable finish paired exceptionally well with our main courses of Osso Buco and Braised Italian Ribs.

A superb fine wine, currently retailing between $80–$120. Drink now or hold for 5–10 years. Cheers.

Trivia: Ca’Marcanda, GAJA’s estate in Bolgheri with roots in Barbaresco, Piedmont, part of the Wilson Daniels portfolio, was acquired in 1996 after 18 distinct and arduous negotiations with the previous owners. The name comes from a Piedmontese dialect expression meaning “The House of Endless Negotiations”, a nod to the persistence and diplomacy required to secure the land.

By Italian cultural standards, the name is not a slight but a compliment. Negotiation is seen as an art form, a process of relationship-building, emotional intelligence, and mutual respect. Naming the estate Ca’Marcanda honors that tradition: a story of tenacity, dialogue, and reverence for the craft of agreement, worn as a badge of honor by both buyer and seller.

Tenuta di Arceno Il Fauno di Arcanum 2020

25 February 2025 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux from Tuscany, Italy

Merlot 41%, Cabernet Franc 34%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Petit Verdot 5%

Purchase Price: $87.00 (Restaurant)

James Suckling 93, Wine Spectator 93, Jeb Dunnuck 92, Robert Parker 92, ElsBob 92

ABV 14.5%

Aromas of black cherry and plum; full-bodied and dry with a silky tannic finish. Pairs well with ribeye, filet, grilled vegetables, or desserts like cannoli and tiramisu. We enjoyed it with osso boco on garlic mashed potatoes – delicious. Also ideal for sipping on a shady patio on a warm afternoon.

An excellent fine wine priced slightly under the median for 92-point wines (retail ~$52).

Trivia: A Faun (Fauno in Latin) is a half-human, half-goat creature in Greek and Roman mythology with hairy legs, pointed ears, a tail, and human arms. The most famous faun is Pan, the Greek god of nature, known for playing a flute, his sexual prowess, and joking attitude.

Chateau Lajarre Bordeaux Superieur 2020

7 January 2025 By in Red Wine, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux Red Blend form Bordeaux, France

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc

Purchase Price: $14.99

Wine Enthusiast 87-91, ElsBob 88

ABV 13.5%

Aromas of black fruits, smooth, slightly acidic, medium bodied with a short finish. Will pair well with beef, pasta, and cheese. Serve slightly chilled.

A very good table wine at an elevated price. Probably not worth paying more than $12.

Santa Julia Reserva Mountain Blend 2022

10 December 2024 By in Red Wine, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux Red Blends from Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Franc

Purchase Price: $12.99

James Suckling 91, Robert Parker 91, ElsBob 90

ABV 13.9%

Aromas of plums and herbs, medium-bodied, tannic, balanced, with a medium finish on the palate. Enjoy it by itself or with a few Godiva chocolate truffes.

An excellent wine at less than half what you would expect to pay for a comparable wine.

Chateau Dalem 2020

21 May 2024 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux Red Blends from Fronsac, Bordeaux, France.

90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

Purchase Price: $22.97

Ratings: James Suckling 94, Robert Parker 93, Vinous 93, Decanter 92, Jeb Dunnuck 91, Wine Spectator 91, ElsBob 90.

ABV: 14.5%

A deep ruby to black in color, aromas of plums, cherries, and blackberries, dry, medium-to-full-bodied, with a medium finish.

Pairs well with fish, poultry, and vegetables.

An excellent wine at a slightly elevated price.

Chateau Marjosse Bordeaux 2020

4 February 2024 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux Red Blend from Bordeaux, France

14.5% alcohol

Purchased: 18 August 2023 – $14.99

Opened: 22 January 2024

els:  9.0/10

James Suckling:  90

Decanter:  91

“Marjosse is my secret garden. It gives me energy. It is important for me to have this place and share it.” – Pierre Lurton.

This is a medium-bodied, deep-reddish purple Bordeaux with scents of plums and blackberries. It is a merlot heavy blend with secondary amounts of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and malbec. This is a outstanding wine at a good price.

Chateau Marjosse is a right bank Bordeaux vineyard in the Entre Deux Mers appellation, owned and operated by Pierre Lurton. The vineyard is just under 124 acres, planted mostly in merlot. Smaller portions of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc, semillon, chardonnay, old vine malbec and muscadelle. For the red wine, the planted varieties of grape are 80% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc, and a smidgen of malbec. There are three main soil types: sand and red clay, sand and white clay, and limestone. The vines are planted on sloping hillsides, rising almost one thousand feet above sea level. (The above quote is from The Wine Independent article published in February 2023.)

Chateau Ampelia Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux 2011

17 February 2018 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

W Ampelia 2011Bordeaux Red Blend, St. Philippe d’ Aiguilhe, Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

95% merlot

5% cabernet franc

13.5% alcohol

Purchased: 24 April 2014 – $17.99

Opened: 14 Feb 2018

els: 8.9/10

Wine Enthusiast: 92

Cellar Tracker: 89

Wine Spectator: 88

The Despagne family has been making wines in the Saint-Emilion AOC  for more than 200 years. Today Francois, a seventh generation descendent of the Despagne family, is currently manager, since 1996, of Grand Corbin-Despagne winery and founder of the Chateau Ampelia in 1999. Breaking with family tradition the new winery and vineyards are located to the east, and adjacent to Saint-Emilion in the Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux appellation 1.5 miles west of Saint-Philippe-d’Aiguille, and a little more than 4 miles north of the Dordogne River. This AOC was upgraded from Bordeaux Superior in 2008 and the area includes about 230 families working, on average, 25 acres of vines; predominately Merlot (70%), but also Cabernet Franc (20%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%).  Vines in this area date back to at least the 2nd century AD when the Romans planted Vitus Biturica, an ancient cousin of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Merlot, the most planted grape in France, in known for its mellow and rounded flavors and is often blended with its close cousin: Cabernet Sauvignon and or its parent: Cabernet Franc, to soften them up. Cabernet Franc is a black skinned grape that imparts a peppery character to Bordeaux blends.

The grapes are harvested and sorted twice, once in the vineyard and then again at the winery. They are crushed, de-stemmed and fermented in temperature controlled, concrete and stainless steel tanks.  The post-fermented juice is racked into French oak barrels, one-third which are new, and allowed to age for 12 months before being blended and bottled.

The wine has ruby-red color with a garnet rim. A bouquet of cherries, plums and cedar with a hint of pepper. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied with soft tannins.  It has a pleasant, medium lasting, and soothing finish. Not overly bold but a refreshing wine.

A good wine but hard to find and a little expensive for the quality. Pair with a snack of soft cheese and berries.  Drink now, but should last for another year or two.  Decant and aerate for one hour before drinking.

$22.37 wine-searcher.com (limited availability)

 

Highway 12 Highwayman Proprietary Red 2012

6 December 2017 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

W Highwayman 2012Other Red Blends from Sonoma County, California

Proprietary red blend:

     cabernet sauvignon

     cabernet franc

     merlot

14.8% alcohol

Opened 2 Dec 2017

els 9.1/10

Highway 12 is a North Coast, Sonoma County winery producing 3 brands of differing quality wines from the vineyards of Sonoma and Carneros regions: Highway 12, Carneros Highway, and their flagship wine: Highwayman.  The Highwayman lineup includes 1 white and 4 reds: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and 2 red blends.  Their Proprietary Red was the initial wine in this lineup with the blend of grape types and percentages changing from vintage to vintage.  The 2013 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot as opposed to this 2012 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

Highwayman, the wine, commemorates the fabled gentlemen robbers of days gone by, who relieved, accessible and unguarded, or guarded, travelers of their possessions on the desolate stretches of road in many a nation’s country-sides. In California, a highwayman was known as a road agent, the most famous of which was probably Charles “Black Bart” Boles, a bandit with a particular affinity to Wells Fargo Coaches and their money boxes. He plied his trade of questionable legitimacy for 8 years during the late 19th century, along the deserted roads of northern California.  Black Bart, always armed with a shotgun but never fired during any of his roadside capers, acquired his name by leaving snippets of rhyming poetry at the scene of his crimes. Below is a sample of his poetry that he left at a robbery in 1877, with a slight, germane, editorial modification:

I’ve labored long and hard for (wine and) bread,
For honor, and for riches,
But on my corns too long you’ve tread,
You fine-haired sons of bitches.
 
— Black Bart, 1877.

Fortunately for all of us, highway robbery is now practiced by a better class of erudite individuals.

This wine has a black ruby-red hue, aromas of sweet black and blue berries, with whiffs of spicy herbs and earth, producing an enjoyable, full-bodied, long finish. It exhibits a powerful but balanced and delightful taste of chewy tannins and fruit. Perhaps a tad heavy by itself, better if served with a medium rare rib-eye.

An outstanding wine. Decant and aerate for at least one hour.

$19.38  wine-searcher.com