North American Cab Franc?

A co-worker from Argentina has asked me to recommend a Cabernet Franc from North America. Unfortunately, I can't even name one, let alone make a recommendation. Can anyone help me out?

In June 2007 at NiagaraCOOL we did a tasting of 24 Cab Francs. While the Chinons showed better than most, a few of the North American ones were very nice, especially Boaboursville, from VA. Here are two links:
http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9178&p=74529
http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11226&p=90957.

[Jenise]

What's his price and experience level?

Two that I've found of high quality and interest....

Spring Valley, Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla, 2003: Demonstrating once again that the best New World Cabernet Franc is coming from Washington State, this dark, rich and spicy wine shows a complex array of plum, raspberry and cassis fruits, those backed up beautifully by aromas and flavors of sweet cedar, tobacco and chocolate. Full bodied and with tannins integrating beautifully, this tempting wine leads to a long maraschino cherry finish. Best 2007-2011. Score 95. (Tasted 22 Jun 2006)

Chateau St. Jean, Cabernet Franc, St. Jean Estate Vineyard, Sonoma, 1997: Dark garnet towards inky purple in color, this full-bodied wine boasts mouthcoating tannins and appealing black cherry, blackcurrant and espresso notes on first attack, those yielding to raspberries, espresso coffee and tobacco. Long and generous. Drink now-2009. Score 92. (Re-tasted but not blind 22 Apr 2007)

Best
Rogov

Crocker & Starr makes a superb Cab Franc

Lang and Reed make one from Napa fruit in a Loire-like style that can be quite nice.

Corte Riva

Lang and Reed make one from Napa fruit in a Loire-like style that can be quite nice.

I've had the Lang and Reed as well - quite nice. I've also had a Larkin Cab Franc which was referred to me by a store....it was also pretty good but I never did understand why it was sold for $75/bottle!!!

Thanks to everyone for all of the great suggestions. My co-worker has a good deal of experience, mostly with Spanish, French, and Argentinian wines. He is a huge Cab Franc fan and he loves oak. He asked me to keep the price around 50 USD, or less. You have all given me a lot to check into.

Thanks to everyone for all of the great suggestions. My co-worker has a good deal of experience, mostly with Spanish, French, and Argentinian wines. He is a huge Cab Franc fan and he loves oak. He asked me to keep the price around 50 USD, or less. You have all given me a lot to check into.

Portteus Winery, out of Zillah, WA http://www.portteus.com

You may be able to find it in high end grocery stores or wine shops, too.

Disclaimer: my sister and her husband own this vineyard/winery - I would love their wine even if we weren't related, though.

a huge cab franc fan who loves oak? ahemm!

If he doesn't mind a shot of oak recommend the Ironstone Reserve. Our favoite Cal/Franc is the blockbuster from Tobin James (no relation to anything from the East or Europe).

[Jenise]

He is a huge Cab Franc fan and he loves oak. He asked me to keep the price around 50 USD, or less. You have all given me a lot to check into.

That should put Rogov's suggestion of the Spring Valley up near the top of your list.

He is a huge Cab Franc fan and he loves oak. He asked me to keep the price around 50 USD, or less. You have all given me a lot to check into.

Sounds like Corte Riva.

[Jenise]

Disclaimer: my sister and her husband own this vineyard/winery - I would love their wine even if we weren't related, though.

Good friends of mine are devoted Portteus customers, and through them I've tasted many of the wines. They've all been very very good, especially considering the fact that the friends often prefer modern wines with bigger fruit and high alcohol (but not always--they don't get that difference, it's just an "if we like it we like it" thing) where I prefer a more restrained, European style. Portteus ends up in a nice place in the middle we can both appreciate.

I know this may be pooh-poohed, but I have always found older Pride Cab Francs, and even young ones, pretty profound. And I am not one who tolerates oak very easily.

I would suggest the 1997 L'Ecosse Cabernet Franc Cuvee Hommage de Jeanne d'Arc Napa Valley. I posted a note on this wine within the last week if you are interested.

-Michael

[Jenise]

I know this may be pooh-poohed, but I have always found older Pride Cab Francs, and even young ones, pretty profound. And I am not one who tolerates oak very easily.

I agree that Pride's CF is excellent, but is it available? (Asks she who has never seen a bottle of Pride on a retail shelf.)

IMO Long Island is the most successful region for cabernet franc in North America. Schneider, Gristina, and Paumanok are some of my favorites.

I tend to like Havens Bourriquot, a 2:1 CF/Merlot blend. Good value at $20-30.

I served the Pride Cf ('01?) at a CF tasting a couple years ago, for me it was a caricature of a wine, super-over-ripe fruit and tons of fresh-sawed oak. I respect the tastes of others who like, but I was appalled by this wine.

lets face it....not a stand alone varietal...blending grape is its destiny...
M

lets face it....not a stand alone varietal...blending grape is its destiny...
M

Try Olga Raffault's '89 'Les Picasses' and see if you can stand by that statement. In the Loire, at least, CF seems to do just fine as a monocepage.

Mark Lipton

A co-worker from Argentina has asked me to recommend a Cabernet Franc from North America. Unfortunately, I can't even name one, let alone make a recommendation. Can anyone help me out?

Ballentine makes a good Napa Cab Franc.

about its being a stand alone grape. this has a lot to do with the coolness of the climate. almost not grape is stand alone in climates that are warm for that variety. the further south you go in france or italy the fewer singel cepage wines you find. ( esp. for traditional doc's or aoc's. modern winemaking technology has slightly changed this with jacketed fermentors and more). the further north you go the more likely single cepage wines become - think alsace and loire vs. southern rhone as an extreme example.

so, in CA and other warmer climes, CF, being the earliest ripening of the bordeaux varieties definitly should not be stand alone. but in Loire, Finger Lakes, MI and other cooler places, it shines as a stand alone.