Full Review

Working Dog Winery

Working Dog Winery
2017 Retriever Estate, Cabernet Franc, New Jersey

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.2%
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$39

Working Dog Winery
2017 Retriever Estate, Cabernet Franc, New Jersey

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.2%
Dark burnt sienna color. Aromas and flavors of ripe cherry, persimmon, pico de gallo, patent leather, and ground cinnamon with a lightly tannic, vibrant, dry medium-to-full body and a graceful, appealing, medium-long finish with notes of tangy pickled berries with moderate oak flavor. A fruit-driven Cabernet Franc with great varietal character.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, Oaky & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: ripe cherry, persimmon, pico de gallo, patent leather, and ground cinnamon
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of tangy pickled berries
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Pot Roast, Steak & Potatoes, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A fruit-driven Cabernet Franc with great varietal character.

The Producer

Working Dog Winery

The Producer
610 Windsor-Perrineville Rd
Hightstown, NJ 08520
USA
1 609-371-6000

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.