2004 Golden Mile Cellars Cabernet Franc

[Innkeeper]

IMHO Cabernet Franc is the most undergrown, underproduced, and underappreciated grape in the U.S. Not only have the folks in the Loire Valley done wonders with it for generations, but Chateau Cheval Blanc the numero uno St Emilion has it ahead of Merlot in their blend.

In her book "Tasting Pleasure - Confessions of a Wine Lover", Jancis Robinson writes about tasting ten year old bottles of the Five First Growths, Petrus, Cheval, and later Ausone with the Penning-Rowsell, Broadbents, and her husband during the '80s. She flately states that the composite winner over the decade was Cheval. This speaks rather well of Cab Franc.

Since other Bordeaux grapes do well in this country, you would think that Cab Franc (the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon) would do well too. I just think the Left Coasters haven't tried hard enough.