Full Review

Atwater

Atwater
2022 Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.2% RS: .1%
94 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$32

Atwater
2022 Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.2% RS: .1%
Light garnet color. Aromas of cocoa nibs and black raspberry, espresso beans, violet bubblegum, and cedar shavings with a full body and a long blackberry pomegranate, black currant, pipe tobacco and grilled bell pepper, and black raspberry tea finish. Top of the list for FLX red wines; depth of dark red and black fruits with a semi-carbonic candied lift, savory herbs and light barrel spice, all integrated and in balance.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: cocoa nibs and black raspberry, espresso beans, violet bubblegum, and cedar shavings
Taste Flavor: blackberry pomegranate, black currant, pipe tobacco and grilled bell pepper, and black raspberry tea
Sweetness Sweetness: Dryish
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years Enjoy on its own
Recipes Pairing: Pot Roast, Steak & Potatoes, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Top of the list for FLX red wines; depth of dark red and black fruits with a semi-carbonic candied lift, savory herbs and light barrel spice, all integrated and in balance.

The Producer

Atwater Vineyards

The Producer
5055 State Route 414
Burdett, NY 14818
USA
1 607-546-8463

Cabernet Franc

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Cabernet Franc is a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is ideally suited to cooler climates, as it buds and ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. Additionally, it is less susceptible to poor weather during harvest. In the Medoc and Graves region of Bordeaux, where it typically constitutes about 15% of the final blend, it is seen as a measure of insurance against poor cabernet sauvignon or merlot weather. Cabernet franc used to be planted almost as widely as cabernet sauvignon in Bordeaux well into the 60s, but cabernet sauvignon had swung into such favor that 30 years later it had twice the acreage of cabernet franc.

Cabernet Franc tends to be lighter in color and tannins than cabernet sauvignon, with an earlier-maturing character. On Bordeaux's Right Bank, cabernet franc has a stronger foothold, and is best known as the dominant grape in the blend for the famed château, Cheval Blanc. It is the most widely planted red varietal in the Loire, where it yields lighter wines, like Chinon, with distinct herbal overtones. US cabernet francs are still largely in the experimental stage; there is a huge spectrum of interpretations, from heavy Napa wines to lighter styles from the East Coast.

Cabernet Franc is noted for its deep ruby red color and peppery, spicy character. It has moderate tannins and good acidity. Generally a Cabernet Franc should be consumed with some age - at least five years - while the finest versions drink well for more than twenty years.

Pair Cabernet Franc with hearty foods such as wild game, game birds and roasts.