4 | Wine | Cabernet Franc | Page 2

"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

"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