Ravenswood Cabernet Franc 1998
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Ravenswood
Region: Sonoma County, California
If you are a French wine drinker, Cabernet Franc translates to St. Emilion in Bordeaux or Chinon in the Loire Valley. Until recently, in California it has meant almost nothing. There were only very small plantings, and those were usually blended with Cabernet or Merlot to add an attractive, spicy component to the wines. There is now more Cabernet Franc planted and, as a consequence, we are beginning to see the first varietal Cabernet Francs coming into the market.
Sonoma Valley hillside plantings, the source for this wine, are in well-drained soils that tend to limit the natural strong vigor of the Cabernet Franc vine, keep the tonnage low and the berries small and intense. The result is striking. The wine tends toward very concentrated with perfumes and considerable aromatics. Spice, leather, blackberries and smoky scents are all found in the aroma. The wine is rich and lively on the palate with a long, complex finish, punctuated with noticeable soft tannins.
