WTN: Oh no! I love a Fruit Bomb!

After reading all the Dressner notes posted over the weekend, I am almost embarrased to post my notes on a huge, very fruit forward California wine that I absolutely loved this past week. Maybe I should banish myself to the Squires board instead.

2000 Hanna Bismarck Ranch Cabernet Franc. From the ranch located way on top of the ridgeline at 2600 feet. The label indicated this was their first varietal bottling.

C: Beautiful purplish black with reddish rim.
N: Some alcohol (14.8% abv, I recall) but what stood out was the floral character-beautiful ripe currant on the nose with magnificant floral notes. Lovely anise character really shines through. Just a hint of bell pepper, but it is only a grace note, not dominant.
P: Yum. Layers and layers of big ripe Cabernet fruit. Anise, cherry, currant, tobacco, earth. Later in the evening just a hint of green pepper appears-but not bothersome in any way. In no way tired or faded after almost nine years. Tannins are quite soft and approachable, but the wine is so slurpably good that I cannot complain about "lack of structure" here

This may be my favorite California Cab Franc I have tried. It is utterly different than the Loire Valley reds I like but so slurpable. I would give it 95 points just because of the superb flavorfulness.

______________________________________

OTHER WINES:

2004 William Harrison Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Very nice, delicious Rutherford Cabernet with plenty of dark currant fruit, licorice/anise, a hint of tobacco. Some noticeable oak notes here-this definitely needs time for everything to become fully integrated. 90 points. I have more that I will pull out in a year or so!

2003 Hoopes Vineyard Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Totally different wine-cooler vintage, western slope of the valley in Oakville. Much lighter in character, more bright berry fruit. Somewhat green. Leaner mouth feel. Some funky savory notes but not sure in a good way. I have to admit I prefer, in general, Rutherford cabernets to the Oakville ones. Is this just a marketing ploy I''ve taken to heart? 85 points and would not buy again. Cute critter label, though.

2002 Lang and Reed Cabernet Franc "Premiere Etages" From this Cabernet Franc specialist. Much stricter structure than the Hanna-there are definitely some drying tannins here. Still...lovely floral currant nose and fruit. Lighter mouth feel, but the alcohol is more noticeable on the nose. With time, the tannins became tamer and a lovely savory/earthy base to the wine came shining through. I am loving the better California Cab Francs. 92 points.

I dunno, there seems to be something intrinsically austere about cab franc that reins in even those raised and bred to be fruit bombs.

I dunno, there seems to be something intrinsically austere about cab franc that reins in even those raised and bred to be fruit bombs.

There was definitely some austerity in the Land and Reed bottling. This was a wine, though, that just got better and better as we sipped it over the afternoon. The savory note was pretty compelling in the last glass.

William Harrison also does a very lush Rutherford Cabernet Franc that ranks up there with the Lang and Reed and Hanna bottlings.

I might bring a Mount Veeder (Vinoce) Cab Franc to the Blues Jam tonight. Just for scientific research, of course!

I dunno, there seems to be something intrinsically austere about cab franc that reins in even those raised and bred to be fruit bombs.

I'll steer you towards the Pride CF, and the Le Dome st Emilion (75% CF). Let me know how you feel about their austerity.