Warwick Valley Winery Cabernet Franc 2009

this is my second posting for this new york winery on the shawangunk wine trail. a definite winning effort from the folks at warwick valley. this red sells for about $16 and has aromas of black cherry, some smoke, black currant and a little oak. the palate is fruit forward with black currant, more black cherry, some nice cigar notes, and some slightly earthy flavors. the wine is very light on the palate and has a medium length finish. good pizza wine or try it with some italian fare.

Justin Monmousseau 2007 Chinon

as big and bold as the last wine i wrote about (gamble family vineyards red blend), this red goes to the opposite end of the spectrum. this wine is from the loire valley in france and is 100% cab franc. french wines tend to be subtle and are very food friendly. this one is definitely in that category. the nose has strawberry, tobacco, some inky aromas, violet, a little oregeno and some leafy green notes. the palate is subtle raspberry and currant, with earthy, musty, forest berry and fig notes. think about old books in a basement. but very subtle tastes that work with salmon, chicken, milder cheeses. sells for about $15 and is worth a try.

DiStefano 2005 Sogno

this $16 blend of 98% cabernet franc and 2% cabernet sauvignon comes from the columbia valley in washington and has a very nice nose of red fruits and some typical cab franc aromas of herbs, mostly thyme, and a little cedar. the palate is loaded with cherry and blueberry flavors, and is followed by some herbal and vanilla notes. i also got some interesting minty flavors at the end. nice tannins and complexity to this red. stews, pasta and red meat dishes with this one.

Glorie Farm Winery Cabernet Franc 2007

another wine from the shawangunk wine trail in new york's hudson river region, glorie primarily makes sweeter dessert style wines. the cab franc was a new release for them. the nose had aromas of raspberry, violet and a little earth. the palate was full of raspberry and earth notes, with some floral flavors as well. there was also an odd circus peanut flavor in the finish. tannins were light to medium and the wine was not bad. priced at $21, this red is a bit pricey for the type of wine it is. not bad for a northeast cab franc but i have had better. the cab franc from kinkead ridge in ohio comes to mind. i will be interested to see glorie produce this for a few years and if the wine gets better.