Cabernet Franc

[Sikboy]

I've always just thought of this as a blending grape; the 2% at the end of a Bordeux label. But last night I had a glass of the 2005 Cabernet Franc from the Crystal Valley Cellars, and all I'll be damned if that wasn't one of the better bottles I've had this year. But here's what's killing me: I can not describe the wine at all. This is killing me. While I'm waiting to get my Law License, I've been selling beer and wine, and being able to describe a good wine is paramount to selling it.

Anyhow, if you like reds, do yourself a favor and check out this wine.

-Sik

[tapakeg]

Yeah it's a great grape.  My wife and I have been fans for years.  we have more Cab Franc i our cellar than we do Merlot.

We just opened an 01 and it was great.  I wish more wineries would bottle more, I have been saying for years that it is the next merlot, that it was once thought of as a blending grape but became a popular varietal.


I am a wine salesman in Reno and I am always pulling samples of different Cab Francs in our portfolio just to try them.

Another great "blending" Bordeaux varietal is Malbec.


Tap

[Sikboy]

Yeah, coming at wine as I have, I knew the Malbec as a "South American" grape, and was really surprised to find out that it was a bordeux. It's amazing to watch how grapes gain acceptance in the population. I mean, I can't believe how big the Shiraz/Sryah got thanks to the Aussies. I think that's translating into a potential increase in Petite Syrah, but in order for that to happen, I think prices are going to have to come down on that grape. Right now, the Bogle is a reasonable buy, but most of them are just too high over the Shiraz, that I think they are over looked.

Have you tried the Michael David "Petite Petit" yet? Holy crap that's good wine. It's a blend of Petite Syrah and a bit of Petit Verdot out of Lodi. Freakin amazing. I was always skeptical of those Michael David wines, since they had such gimmicky names (7 deadly Zins for example). But I have yet to find a wine of theirs that I didn't think was a great value for the price point.

Nice to see another wino on the board.

-Sik

PS: Wino's never get affraid of anything, but running out of wine.
-Richard Pryor.

[DiabloTX]

I sind merlots to be a one-trick pony, never really saw the popularity of it.  I tried some Peruvian malbec when I was in Panama in '06 thought it was very, very good.  But give me a nice smokey syrah/shiraz and I will be happy camper!

[Sikboy]

I sind merlots to be a one-trick pony, never really saw the popularity of it.  I tried some Peruvian malbec when I was in Panama in '06 thought it was very, very good.  But give me a nice smokey syrah/shiraz and I will be happy camper!

I like Merlot as the generic red. It's sort of a gateway into wine (though the Australian Shiraz is just as/more so effective). If you just need a red wine for a party and you have no idea what's going to be served, or what anyone there likes, take a decent Merlot and you'll be good to go. Call me a typcial American, but I don't think you can beat a Big, offensive Zinfindel. One that curls your toes and punches you in the face.

-Sik

[DiabloTX]

I think that's why merlot is a 'safe' red, it won't offend your average wine drinker save for the wine snob(s) in the party.  It's also why I find it a little boring, there's nothing really to search out in it's flavor palette.

[Yeager]

A good red wine is like a good cigar.  I dont know how to describe them but I know when I've got one.

[Sikboy]

I think that's why merlot is a 'safe' red, it won't offend your average wine drinker save for the wine snob(s) in the party.  It's also why I find it a little boring, there's nothing really to search out in it's flavor palette.

I'd say that's about right. Though on occasion there's the exception to the rule. Take for example the "Green Lion" merlot, which I tend to describe as "A genetic experiment to make a Cab wine out of a Merlot grape" But by and large there's not a lot of complexity to Merlot. I don't think that's a bad thing, but like you said, it gets "boring" In other wines you can find yourself chasing flavor. "How buttery can Chardonay get?" "How Crisp is that Sauvongon Blanc?" "How duplicious is that Pinot?" "How mean is that Zin?" When you open a bottle of any other varietal, you have something to hope for, some question to answer. But for Merlot it's just "How's this going to taste?"

-Sik

[Getback]

I aint Drinking any %#@%$# Merlot! 

Bet sells went flat after that movie.

[DiabloTX]

Exactly.  Also, if there's one thing I can't stand is being served wine that is just above freezing.  I can't understand why people don't get that.  My wife especially.  If it's not brrrrrrrrr cold she's not drinking it.  I try to explain to her that it's best at or below room temerature, that warmer temps bring out the flavors more, especially in white wine.  We went to a really nice restaurant a couple weeks back and I ordered a grilled chicken breast with an exotic sauce (the name of which eludes me right now) and ordered a glass of chardonnay with it.  They bring me the wine glass and the wine was chilled to the point that the glass has endless condensation.  Way, way too cold.  It was a damn fine chardonnay, what little of it I could taste.

[DiabloTX]

I aint Drinking any %#@%$# Merlot! 

Bet sells went flat after that movie.

Actually, they did indeed.  And pinot noirs went up like 40%.  No joke.  Great movie BTW.

[Sikboy]

I aint Drinking any %#@%$# Merlot! 

Bet sells went flat after that movie.

The irony of that, is that Pinot Noir got raped after that movie. Demand skyrocketed and really killed the quality of the medium end Pinots. Now the market is flooded with some of the worst $10 bottles of wine out there that idiots drink with a smile, all because Paul Giamatti shoved his sniffer into a huge glass and whined about his ex wife.

Give me 10 bucks and I'll get you a quality merlot, or a crappy Pinot.

-Sik

[DiabloTX]

I can certainly vouch for that assessment.  I've bought some damn expensive crappy pinots since that movie came out.

BUT...

My brother bought a bottle of $25 pinot in Phoenix (I can't remember the label) during christmas '06 that was un-freaking-believable.

[Sikboy]

I can certainly vouch for that assessment.  I've bought some damn expensive crappy pinots since that movie came out.

BUT...

My brother bought a bottle of $25 pinot in Phoenix (I can't remember the label) during christmas '06 that was un-freaking-believable.

Oh, there's no doubt that the Pinot is a freaking great grape. I like to describe it as a "valley" when you taste a good one. It's strong on the front with heavy fruit, and then strong on the finish with a "reminder" that you just experienced excellent wine. But a good pinot is a lot harder to produce than any of the other Big six grapes (for those just joinging us, that's the Cabernet Sauvongon, Merlot, Pinot noir, Chardonay, Sauvongon Blanc, and Riesling). For example, check out the bottom shelf at your local store, you should notice that most of the Pinots are imported now. Even the "California" wineries are bringing their grapes in from overseas. When Mondavi wines are descretely labeled "Product of France" that tells you that they are pretty desperate. I mean can you imagine the quality of the Pinot grapes that they allow out of Burgondy? Not so good. For me, I've retreated to New Zealand for my Pinots. They are uneven, but man, when they are on, they are on.

-Sik

[DiabloTX]

The irony of Miles in that movie is he doesn't care for Cab Franc...but that's exactly what's in his cherished bottle of 1961 Château Cheval Blanc, Cab Franc AND f***in' Merlot.  Go figure...