Search results for: 'aging franc'

91 Points! This year, the 2019 Sologarnacha Amphora Aging was produced with grapes from a vineyard planted in 2017. It's "only" 13.5% alcohol (most of the other wines are much higher in alcohol) and has a perfumed and floral nose, showing some lightness after a short maceration to keep the more ethereal part of the variety. The wine matured in a clay tinaja for five months. Only 295 bottles were filled in July 2020. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

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95 Points! The 2022 Cabernet Franc is high-toned, fresh, and mineral-driven, with supple tannin and unobtrusive oak. Medium-bodied, it's well put together and a screaming value for the modest price. This will age well given its natural mouthwatering acidity and firm structure; cellar through 2037. - Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

93+ Points! Sourced from Gualtallary's Adrianna Vineyard, the 2022 Cabernet Franc contains 10% Malbec and underwent a 60-day maceration and aged for 15 months in a mix of foudre, barrique and tank. Opening with a dark-fruited, floral and spice-inflected nose, the palate offers dramatic richness tempered by a sturdy, upright, mineral-driven core. It concludes with an explosive, long and layered finish that balances vibrant energy and staining intensity. This is a strikingly overperforming example of the variety that should develop beautifully in the cellar. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com

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The 2010 vintage emerged from a cooler, more measured growing season in Napa Valley and is often regarded as one of the more classically styled years of the decade. For Scott Palazzo, this vintage reinforced his Right Bank inspired approach to Cabernet Franc, emphasizing restraint, aromatic complexity, and structure over power. Sourced from Carneros and produced in very limited quantities, the magnum format was held back exclusively for Palazzo’s private members for over a decade. This release marks the first time these library magnums have been offered to the public, presenting a rare opportunity to experience a mature, cool-vintage Cabernet Franc in the format best suited for graceful aging.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with a refined and savory aromatic profile, showing dried violet, red currant, and subtle herbal notes layered with hints of cedar and gentle spice. On the palate, the 2010 is composed and focused, offering bright red cherry and cranberry fruit framed by lively acidity and firm, well-integrated tannins. Earthy undertones and a touch of graphite add depth as the wine unfolds. The finish is clean, structured, and persistent, with a sense of freshness and balance that has been beautifully preserved in magnum, highlighting both the vintage’s classic character and its long-term aging potential.

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The 2007 vintage builds on the momentum of Palazzo Wine’s earliest Cabernet Franc releases from Carneros and represents Scott Palazzo’s second vintage of this varietal crafted in Napa Valley. Like its siblings, the wine reflects prolonged devotion to the elegance and complexity found in Bordeaux’s Right Bank wines. For years this magnum format was held exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and collectors, making this the first time this mature, library magnum has been offered to the public. This is a rare chance to acquire a beautifully aged Napa Cabernet Franc from an early chapter in Palazzo’s story.

Tasting Note:
In magnum, the 2007 shows a deep garnet color and a refined nose of redcurrant jelly, kirsch and wild blueberry layered with subtle bay leaf, pencil shavings and tobacco spice. The palate is full and structured with savory fruit core framed by grainy tannins and lively acidity, leading to a long finish with an herbal lift and polished texture. This is a Cabernet Franc with both muscle and nuance, showing depth from age while still retaining bright, expressive fruit and fresh acidity.

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The 2006 vintage represents the first full commercial release of Scott Palazzo’s Cabernet Franc, built on his long-standing devotion to the wines of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. Sourced from Truchard Vineyard in Carneros, this wine reflects Palazzo’s belief that the region produces Cabernet Franc with greater nuance, balance, and aromatic complexity than other parts of Napa Valley. For years, this wine and its magnum format were available only through Palazzo’s private members list. This release marks the first time these magnums have ever been offered to the public, presenting a rare opportunity to experience a defining wine from the estate in the format best suited for long aging and graceful evolution.

Tasting Note:
Now beautifully mature, the 2006 opens with lifted floral aromas of violet and dried rose petal, followed by notes of crushed raspberry, red cherry, and gentle spice. On the palate, the wine is elegant and poised, showing purity of fruit, vibrant acidity, and finely resolved tannins. Savory undertones and a supple texture add depth, while the finish is long, fresh, and refined. In magnum, the wine’s balance and energy remain striking, highlighting the precision and restraint that define Palazzo’s Cabernet Franc.

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The 2009 vintage marks a moment of refinement and confidence in Scott Palazzo’s Cabernet Franc program, building on several successful releases rooted in his Right Bank inspired vision. Sourced from Carneros, the wine reflects a growing mastery of balance, structure, and aromatic expression, emphasizing elegance over excess. As with the earlier vintages, the magnum format was produced in very limited quantities and held back exclusively for Palazzo’s private members. This release represents the first time these mature library magnums have been offered to the public, making it a rare opportunity to acquire a fully developed Napa Cabernet Franc in its most expressive and age-worthy form.

Tasting Note:
The 2009 opens with a layered and inviting bouquet of violets, dried herbs, and ripe red fruits, accented by subtle notes of cedar and spice. On the palate, the wine is composed and seamless, showing red cherry, raspberry, and savory undertones carried by lively acidity and finely integrated tannins. The texture is supple yet structured, with a sense of freshness that belies its age. The finish is long and graceful, revealing depth, polish, and quiet power that are further amplified by the magnum format.

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One of the best Cab Francs in America! From Leo: The Ascona vineyard is farmed by Ken Swegles. The sites that he and his team manage have become quite legendary, and continue to get better and better over the years. We are very excited to share this new release, aged in concrete egg and neutral French oak barrels.

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The 2011 vintage was shaped by one of the coolest and most challenging growing seasons of the decade in Napa Valley, producing wines defined by freshness, structure, and restraint. For Scott Palazzo, the year aligned naturally with his Right Bank inspired vision for Cabernet Franc, favoring balance and aromatic detail over ripeness. Sourced from Carneros and bottled in extremely limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for Palazzo’s private members for more than a decade. This release marks the first time these library magnums have been offered to the public, offering collectors a rare opportunity to experience a cool-vintage Napa Cabernet Franc in its most age-worthy format.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with lifted, savory aromatics of dried herbs, violet, and red currant, accented by subtle notes of cedar and forest floor. On the palate, the 2011 is focused and linear, showing tart cherry, cranberry, and gentle spice carried by bright acidity and finely grained tannins. There is an underlying mineral tension that adds precision and length. The finish is clean, persistent, and quietly complex, with the magnum format preserving the wine’s energy, nuance, and sense of place.

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The 2008 vintage is recognized as one of the strong early expressions of Scott Palazzo’s Right Bank-inspired Napa Cabernet Franc from Carneros, a wine that repeatedly earned high praise from collectors and critics alike for its elegance and depth. For years these magnums were held exclusively for Palazzo’s private members list, never offered to the broader market. This release marks the first time these mature library magnums are available to the public, a rare occasion for a wine that has shown both finesse and age-worthy structure as it has evolved over time.

Tasting Note:
This wine shows a deep, rich hue and carries aromas of crushed violets, cassis, ripe red cherries, and black raspberry, with subtle hints of cedar, spice box, and bay leaf making the bouquet intriguing and layered. On the palate the fruit is concentrated yet refined, with juicy red and dark berry flavors balanced by bright acidity, polished tannins, and gentle earth-driven complexity. The texture is plush and lively, and the finish lingers with spice, soft chocolate nuances, and a harmony of floral and savory notes. Community tastings have consistently scored this vintage in the low 90s, underscoring its quality and appeal in bottle as it approaches peak drinking maturity.

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Founded directly above the San Andreas Fault, DeRose Vineyards is located in one of the most active earthquake areasin the World. Furthermore, it is one of only a few wineries anywhere to have a major fissure dissecting its wine cellars. DeRose has vineyards on both sides of the infamous fault. Soils east of the break contain fragmented granite and crumbled sandstone while those on the west side are mostly granite and limestone. Some blocks lie precisely above the line, their tilled surfaces concealing the fissure far below. Cabernet Franc grows east of the fault in loosely packed loam where the drainage is excellent.

A temperamental grape variety in many locations, Cabernet Franc thrives on the DeRose estate, creating heavily extracted wines with wonderful viscosity. Winemaker Pat DeRose prunes each vine in the winter and later exposes the grapes to beneficial sunlight with careful leaf removal. Clusters are thinned after veraison to attain proper vine balance.

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92 Points! Based on 81% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Malbec, the 2021 Cabernet Franc sports a vivid purple hue to go with impressive aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, spring flowers, and chocolaty oak. It's medium-bodied and has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. A beautiful wine, it might even be better in another year or two as it integrates its oak. Regardless, it's a terrific value that I'd happily drink any time over the coming 8-10 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

92 Points! A rich and fruity cabernet franc with creamy berries, vanilla and sweet oak spices on the nose. Medium body with plush tannins. Creamy berries and mocha on the palate with dried herbs and cedar in the finish. Try after 2025. - JamesSuckling.com

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Sweet nose with caramel and vanilla, slightly floral and fruity. Sweet yet slightly spicy from the rye, it has notes of brown sugar, maple syrup, rock candy and toffee. Spicy notes include clove and cinnamon. Well-balanced with roasted corn, toast and raisin. Sherry finishing adds flavors of walnut, fig and candied fruit. Finish is medium-long with notes of sweet caramel and butterscotch. 46.3% ABV.

Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon is the world's first solera aged bourbon. Solera aging is a process that has generally been reserved for aging cognacs, ports and sherries. It involves filling a series of casks at different intervals over a long period of time. As whiskey from the oldest cask is emptied and bottled, the cask is re-filled with an equivalent amount of whiskey from the second-oldest cask in the solera. This cascading effect continues until the youngest cask in the solera is filled with new whiskey. As a result, no cask in the solera is ever fully emptied. In addition, as the younger whiskey ages and cascades through the solera, its average age and complexity gradually increases over time.

Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon marries Hillrock Estate Bourbon with a mature seed bourbon that was carefully sourced by Pickerell. After cascading through the solera, Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon is finished in 20 year old Oloroso Sherry casks. The finishing process balances the spicy rye flavors of the bourbon and adds further complexity, with layers of fig, roasted walnuts and candied fruit. The current age of Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon is over six years and the rye content is approximately 37%.

 

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94 Points! While the 2022 Cabernet Franc Appellation San Carlos is bright and fresh at first blush, it also has a tension of tannin lurking beneath the surface, offering memorable twin powers of verve and intensity. Green tea and tomato leaf give it a savory, herbal edge that delights, contrasting well against a foundation of cassis and black plum. This one stays with you. Cellar through 2037. - Virginie Boone, robertparker.com

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96 Points! Lots of Bordeaux-like currants, cedar pencil, chocolate, and leather nuances emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Franc Tinaquaic Vineyard, an incredibly well-balanced, medium to full-bodied red that has fine tannins and a great finish. It might be one of the finest Bordeaux blends I've tasted from this estate, and if you were to put this in a blind tasting of top Bordeaux, you might just shock your friends – and yourself. - Jeb Dunnuck

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The Mussio Rosso is a dry ruby red wine from the Zoppola commune located in the region of Fruiuli Venezia Giulia, Italy.

Suggested serving temperature is 18°C. 100% Cabernet Franc

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Winemaker Notes:

Coquelicot Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley - 170 Cases 

PH 3.5 TA 5.4 Alcohol 13% Picked 10-4-2022 Bottled 6-06-2024

Certified CCOF Organic. 100% whole cluster fermentation, native yeast, fermented in a tall steel open top fermenter, foot stomped, free run gravity fed daily, then gravity fed back over the top for a very long slow fermentation over three weeks.

Aged in a large Puncheon on the lees until bottling. This wine is a stunner! Bright fruit, earth and spice.

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94 Points! The 2021 Poggio de Colli, 100% Cabernet Franc, is stunning. It’s peppery and floral throughout, with masses of crushed strawberry and raspberry spiced up by tangerine zest. This impresses further with its wiry textures offset by tantalizing acidity. A core of tart wild berry fruit cascades across the palate, underscored by saline minerals and hints of citrus. Fine-grained tannins emerge through the finish as the 2021 tapers off spicy yet fresh, leaving the mouth watering despite its structure and intensity. This is a ripe vintage for Poggio de Colli, yet it is still a glorious Cabernet Franc that will pay dividends in the cellar. - Eric Guido, Vinous Media

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From the importer: This single malt whisky exemplifies the Mars approach to experimentation, taking full advantage of Japan’s vast and varying terrain by distilling in Nagano, 2,625 feet above sea level, then transporting the whisky south for aging in Yakushima, an island 60 km off the Kagoshima mainland. Distilled in 2015 and 2016, this non-chill filtered, lightly peated single malt has aged for just over 3–4 years in primarily ex-bourbon barrels and some sherry casks. Juicy citrus on the nose gives way to vanilla custard on the palate with hints of peat; fresh orange and lemon resurface on the bright finish. 53% ABV Learn More