Full Review

Reynolds Family Winery

Reynolds Family Winery
2018 Due Diligence, Cabernet Franc, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.6%
94 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$140
Cellar Selection

Reynolds Family Winery
2018 Due Diligence, Cabernet Franc, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.6%
Black garnet color. Complex aromas of black tea, cedar, dried figs, conditioned leather, and hints of eucalyptus with a slightly chewy, vibrant, dryish full body and a tingling, nuanced, medium-long hints of ginger, molasses, and mocha toffee finish with chewy tannins and heavy oak flavor. A dense and spicy Napa Cabernet Franc that will seamlessly pair with steak; decant or cellar.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Oaky, Rich & Full & Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: black tea, cedar, dried figs, conditioned leather, and hints of eucalyptus
Taste Flavor: hints of ginger, molasses, and mocha toffee
Sweetness Sweetness: Dryish
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Blue Cheese Crusted Ribeye, Steak & Potatoes, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A dense and spicy Napa Cabernet Franc that will seamlessly pair with steak; decant or cellar.

The Producer

Reynolds Family Winery

The Producer
3266 Silverado Trl
Napa, CA 94558
USA
1 707-258-2558

Cabernet Franc

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Cabernet Franc is very closely related to cabernet sauvignon; it is widely presumed that cabernet franc is just a well established mutation. 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.