Jeff Runquist, R Cabernet Franc 2014, Salman Vineyard, Clarksburg, California

Tasting Note: A tart wine with a distinctive profile for a hot weather cabernet franc.

Ruby in color this wine has an intensely aromatic nose of black fruit including blackberry, black currant, raspberry and vanilla and cinnamon baking spice.

On the attack you feel a combination of medium acidity and tart black fruit as if the basket of fruit used to make the wine had 10% of its fruit delivered slightly underripe.

The tartness and acidity are refreshing when combined with the red cherry and red plum fruit flavors that emerge mid palate and which run slightly under the wine’s tart character.

Certainly a distinctive find and one to try again in another vintage to see if this vintage’s cabernet franc profile continues.

Bottle Note: True to generalizations about cabernet franc this wine is aromatically fruity, lighter and less tannic than cabernet sauvignon.