1 | Wine | Cabernet Franc, $20 to $50, 750 ml

"Pretty wine with a lovely deep ruby color. Give it a little time to open up – it's worth the wait to get the fragrant floral nose – and some light barnyard funk, then spice. The mouthfeel is light and smooth and the flavors carry plum, cherry notes and bit of herb that finishes with the perfect bite of spice. The tannins are soft and smooth. This is a wine that could be sipped on its own or paired with some strong cheeses that would bring out more of its fruit notes. A typical Loire Valley wine, it carries all the trademark aromas and flavors of the terroir but still has a really comfortable price." - Nancy Koeneman, Binny's Champaign

"Pie spices, huckleberry and leather on the nose, with caramel, raspberries and ripe plums, a bit of toasty barrel smoke giving way to lucious, velvety tannins and a length finish".

"Marked by herb, dill and dried berry, yet pleasantly so, with touches of tobacco leaf and then currant and dried berry. Firmly tannic, but also well-balanced and easy to enjoy."

"This sexy, uber-elegant Cabernet Franc shows the stunning heights this grape can attain! It combines a core of luscious blackberry, black cherry, and plum with expressive notes of cinnamon, tobacco, coffee, and spice. Silky tannins caress the palate, and hints of dark chocolate and a great minerality. This wine has a long and supple finish."