January Wine Night - Cabernet Franc

Host

Nicole

Date

January 22, 2010

Bottles

2003 Laurel Lake - Kevin
2003 Macari - Tom
2004 Martha Clara - Tara & Lauren
2004 Macari - Tommy
2006 Isonzo Del Fruili - Nicole & Alissa
2006 Osprey's Dominion - Tara & Sean
2006 Pindar - Lisa
2007 Les Granges - Jess & Evan

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is one of the major red grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone, as in the Loire's Chinon. In addition to being used in blends and produced as a varietal in Canada and the United States it is made into ice wine there.

Cabernet Franc is lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon, making a bright pale red wine and contributing finesse and a peppery perfume to blends with more robust grapes. Depending on growing region and style of wine, additional aromas can include tobacco, raspberry, and cassis, sometimes even violets.

Records of Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux go back to the end of the 18th century; it was planted in Loire long before that. DNA analysis indicates Cabernet Franc is one of two parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, a cross between it and Sauvignon Blanc.

The Results

WINNER: 2006 Isonzo Del Friuli - 84 points out of 100
Producer: Societa Agricola Aziende L. Ennati SpA
Vineyard: Colmello di Grotta
Country/State/Region: Farra d'Isonzo, Italy
Price: $19.99
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Light
Nose: Oak, Black Fruit
Taste: Spice, Pepper, Vanilla, Fruit
Finish: Strong, Smooth, Dry
Individual Scores: 6, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10

2006 Osprey's Dominion - 72 points out of 100
Producer: Osprey's Dominion Vineyards Ltd.
Vineyard: Osprey's Dominion Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Long Island, New York
Price: $21.99
Aroma: Smoke, Berry, Cherry
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Nose: Dark Fruit, Vanilla
Taste: Smoke, Cherry, Chocolate
Individual Scores: 7, 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 4, 8, 2, 9

2003 Macari - 72 points out of 100
Producer: Macari Vineyards & Winery, Ltd.
Vineyard: Macari Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Long Island, New York
Price: $19.99
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Taste: Cherry
Individual Scores: 8, 3, 9, 8, 7, 7, 8, 6, 7, 9

2006 Pindar - 68.5 points out of 100
Producer: Pindar Vineyards, LLC
Vineyard: Pindar Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Long Island, New York
Price: $14.99
Aroma: Plum, Cherry, Chocolate
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Light
Nose: Raspberry
Taste: Red Berry
Finish: Short
Individual Scores: 7, 6, 6.5, 6, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 6, 7, 7

2004 Martha Clara Vineyards - 60 points out of 100
Producer: Martha Clara Vineyards
Vineyard: Martha Clara Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Long Island, New York
Price: $19.99
Aroma: Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Light
Taste: Red Apple, Black Pepper
Individual Scores: 3, 6, 5, 7.5, 7.5, 6, 5, 9, 2, 9



2004 Macari - 57.5 points out of 100
Producer: Macari Vineyards & Winery, Ltd.
Vineyard: Macari Vineyards & Winery
Country/State/Region: Long Island, New York
Price: $26.99
Aroma: Oak
Appearance: Tawny
Body: Medium
Nose: Oak
Taste: Salt, Metal, Sugar
Individual Scores: 5, 4, 6, 8, 8.5, 5, 2, 3, 8, 8

2003 Laurel Lake Vineyards - 44 points out of 100
Producer: Laurel Lake Vineyards
Vineyard: Laurel Lake Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Long Island, New York
Price: $18.99
Aroma: Vegetables
Appearance: Tawny
Body: Medium
Nose: Vegetables
Taste: Boysenberry, Sugar
Individual Scores: 5, 3, 4, 2, 5, 4, 4, 9, 3, 5

2007 Les Granges - 39 points out of 100
Producer: Domaine Bernard Baudry
Vineyard: Domaine Bernard Baudry
Country/State/Region: Loire Valley, France
Price: $19.99
Aroma: Tabacco, Earth, Minerals
Body: Light
Nose: Tabacco, Black Pepper
Taste: Cherry, Perfume
Finish: Minerals, Olive
Individual Scores: 4, 5, 1, 4, 6, 5, 2, 7, 2, 3


Check our Facebook page for more pictures from January's Wine Night!

Comments

I'm pretty sure that there was a bottle that everyone agreed tasted like diapers on this night. Evan probably felt like that wasn't a distinguished enough Taste for his pretty little wine notebook. Too bad, because I'd like to be sure I never drink that wine again.

Also - this is the infamous night when my lovely (read: not lovely) neighbor called the cops on me for the extremely loud (not) party that I had until all hours of the night (you all were gone before midnight). I loved having a cop knock on my apartment door - so fun. Unfortunately, this now makes me a bad candidate for future repeat host.