Selene – Chesler 2004 – Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley, California
Cost: $60/Bottle
Interesting; I would have pegged it as an Italian wine if I hadn’t known it was made from the fruit of Napa Valley. It has an aromatic profile with raisin, ripe prunes, mild black cherries, subtle fresh tobacco leaf and tea notes— but in the mouth, it’s bold and strong on density, overpowered with fruit and teeth-coating tannins. A whale that doesn’t smack its tail on your taste buds but sits their on your mid-palate letting its weight say it all. Give this wine more time to age— at least another 3 to 4 years. It should evolve nicely, and hopefully with more complexity on both the nose and palate. There’s good substance in this wine that only very few wines on the market can hope to sustain.
Rating: 92
Ironstone Cabernet Franc 2004 – California
Cost: $5.99/half-bottle (Full bottle at about $10)
I’m still dealing with a mild head cold and sinus congestion— taking the day off to rest and load up on the Sudafed; it helps clear the nasal passages. I know I shouldn’t be drinking, but a balanced meal always includes a glass of wine. I’ve been going to the local wine shops and pretty much snapping up their half bottle selections— I enjoy venturing into new wine territories and finding a decent value is always great. This one is a cabernet franc, commonly used as a blending grape in small percentages to add complexity (most often to a wine made of cabernet sauvignon), so it’s nice to see a small handful of producers making wine of the adjunct grape. Cabernet franc, if done right, reveals a subtle vegetal/green spice, and it can be quite difficult to harness that on its own— but the Kautz family, who produce the Ironstone Cab Franc, seems to have gotten the recipe quite right. Notes of roasted cherry and red berries are promising and with just a touch of sage and green leaf to make the wine interesting. It’s silky and slightly watery in texture, perhaps its only fault, as the mid-palate is quite light and lackluster. But for the price, it’s a pretty good value and certainly has enough in it to capture your attention. And then you sip again… Sweet!
Rating: 86
= "personne extraordinaire"