Maker: Dr. Konstantin Frank, Hammondsport, New York, USA
Place of origin: Finger Lakes AVA, New York, USA
Vintage: 2007
ABV: 12%
Price: $20 on website (2011 vintage)
Thanks to Amy for use of her cellar for this bottle.
Appearance: Brick red with long broad legs.
Nose: Rich and structured. Blackberry jam, vanilla, oak, a slight herbaceous note.
Palate: Medium bodied, dry and slightly chewy. Fruity at first, a little tartness, then a little sweet red pepper followed by hit of oak and tannin on the back end.
Finish: Slightly bitter, but balanced out by fruit and ends in a big hit of oak.
Parting words: I got this wine many years ago. It may have been during our trip to the Finger Lakes (Keuka and Seneca lakes, specifically) but I think that was 2006, so it would not have been possible for us to purchase this bottle then. Anyway, my patience has been greatly rewarded.
Cabernet Franc is one of the few Bordeaux red wine grapes that does consistently well in the Eastern U.S. The knock on Cab Franc, as we heard repeatedly in California, was that it can produce a bitter, vegetal “green pepper” taste. One winery we visited even apologized for a blend they poured for us that contained Cab Franc. “It’s mostly Cab Franc, but it’s pretty good.”
This is all Cab Franc and it’s pretty good. It is firm and dry with a slight bell pepper note but more sweet than green, as I noted above. It is kept well in check by tannin, fruit and acid. It drinks like Merlot or a mid-level red Bordeaux with some good age on it. Even approaching seven years old, this wine is still going strong.
We had it with flat iron steak tacos and it paired very well. Hamburgers, steaks or lamb chops would work nicely too. This wine is proof that the northeastern quadrant of the US can make very good red wines. Dr. Konstantin Frank 2007 Cabernet Franc is highly recommended.
Sipology 