J.R. Dill Winery, Cabernet Franc 2009, Finger Lakes, New York

Tasting Note: This medium intensity cabernet franc is deeper in color than many of its contemporaries in the Finger Lakes region.

It is deep ruby red in color. The nose of the wine has a distinct tobacco, chocolate and black fruit smell with a hint of green pepper.

On the palate the wine has medium-plus to high acidity with medium-minus tannin and a chalky finish. As on the nose where fruit is not the first aroma to strike your senses, fruit is also not the first flavor to register on your tongue.

Acidity overrules the taste profile. Perhaps with more age acidity will recede to reveal more fruit. Today the complexities suggested on the nose are lost on the palate.

This wine has many promising attributes on the nose, but the background acidity occupies too much center-stage time on the palate to make this a wine great today.

Bottle Note: J.R. Dill Winery sits overlooking the southern end of Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Our world’s only Seneca Lake glass bar is depicted on the front label. All the glass has been collected from Seneca shores. Enjoy the beauty of the Finger Lakes in every glass. Cheers.