4 | Wine | Cabernet Franc, United States

"There are aromas of black cherry, plum, cassis, vanilla and a slight eucalyptus note. In the glass there are refined flavors of red cherry, cassis, blackberry, plum, spice and tobacco. Our 2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has good structure and complexity along with an old world style balance."

"Sweet spice notes of sage and clove are profiled against youthful fruit aromas on the nose. Intense with good structure on the palate and a deep crimson color. The wine is well centered showing tart black fruit with hints of black pepper in a medium-full bodied style with a long finish. This will age well for many years."

"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".

"Our newest release of Cabernet Franc makes a strong case that the 2010 vintage was perhaps the best ever for this variety. Black cherry, red raspberry, and dark currant aromas leap out of the glass. Upon contemplation, nutmeg, cloves and other warm spices emerge yet even more exotic notes such as cocoa, fennel or dark bittersweet chocolate may elude the palate until barely a sip remains. This is a luscious and supple red with the extraction and power to age for many years. The wine is a blend from three different vineyard sites fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for ten months in neutral French oak barrels and stainless steel. A powerful example of what this special grape can do on the North Fork."

"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."

"The 2007 Cabernet Franc Blueline exhibits abundant characteristics of blueberries, black raspberries, charcoal, incense, and flowers in its round, gracious, generously-endowed personality. With outstanding purity, texture, and depth, the wine never comes across as heavy, but rather, pure and rich. A classic example of combining power with finesse, it can be drunk now and over the next 10-15 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Aromas of dark cherries and tobacco lead to a medium body of mixed berries, plum, spice box and tobacco. The finish isn't lengthy, but it has a pleasant mouthfeel and soft tannins. This one isn't for the cellar, but it's a fun wine from an unexpected place: the Shawnee Hills of Illinois. The Blue Sky Cab Franc may be the biggest jewel in the crown of Midwestern wines." - Trey Johnson, Binny's Champaign