Full Review

Armstrong Valley Winery

Armstrong Valley Winery
2020 Estate Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Pennsylvania

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5%
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$25

Armstrong Valley Winery
2020 Estate Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Pennsylvania

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5%
Dusty ruby color. Aromas and flavors of waxy milk chocolate covered red berries with a dash of cinnamon, coffee grounds with caramel, cassis, and fire cured tobacco with a round, crisp, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, subtle, medium-length finish evoking notes of brandy soaked chocolate covered cherries, vanilla, and mocha caramel cream with well-integrated, medium tannins and a suggestion of oak flavor. A plush and slightly oaky version of Cabernet Franc that should appeal to California wine drinkers.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Crisp & Lively
Aroma Aroma: waxy milk chocolate covered red berries with a dash of cinnamon, coffee grounds with caramel, cassis, and fire cured tobacco
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of brandy soaked chocolate covered cherries, vanilla, and mocha caramel cream
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now with food
Recipes Pairing: Pot Roast, Steak & Potatoes, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A plush and slightly oaky version of Cabernet Franc that should appeal to California wine drinkers.

The Producer

Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery

The Producer
212 Rutter Rd
Halifax, PA 17032
USA
1 717-896-7700

Cabernet Franc

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Cabernet Franc is a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is ideally suited to cooler climates, as it buds and ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. Additionally, it is less susceptible to poor weather during harvest. In the Medoc and Graves region of Bordeaux, where it typically constitutes about 15% of the final blend, it is seen as a measure of insurance against poor cabernet sauvignon or merlot weather. Cabernet franc used to be planted almost as widely as cabernet sauvignon in Bordeaux well into the 60s, but cabernet sauvignon had swung into such favor that 30 years later it had twice the acreage of cabernet franc.

Cabernet Franc tends to be lighter in color and tannins than cabernet sauvignon, with an earlier-maturing character. On Bordeaux's Right Bank, cabernet franc has a stronger foothold, and is best known as the dominant grape in the blend for the famed château, Cheval Blanc. It is the most widely planted red varietal in the Loire, where it yields lighter wines, like Chinon, with distinct herbal overtones. US cabernet francs are still largely in the experimental stage; there is a huge spectrum of interpretations, from heavy Napa wines to lighter styles from the East Coast.

Cabernet Franc is noted for its deep ruby red color and peppery, spicy character. It has moderate tannins and good acidity. Generally a Cabernet Franc should be consumed with some age - at least five years - while the finest versions drink well for more than twenty years.

Pair Cabernet Franc with hearty foods such as wild game, game birds and roasts.

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