WTN: Cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey...

Last night, we unscrewed an Aha Wines 2013 El Dorado County Red Wine, "Bebame." 96% Cabernet Franc, 4% Gamay Noir, 12.5%, $17.25. Ihe small dose of Gamay seems to be making this more flowery than a Cab Franc would ordinarily be; otherwise, it's a juicy, savory wine, and very varietally typical, becoming characteristically pencilly especially as it opens up. By the end of the bottle the pencilly notes are turning sweaty -- in a good way, one that reminds me of some Chinons. Delicious, slurpable, and a bargain, too. I don't think I'll hold on to any of these; they seem to be styled to drink young. I'll open the next one alongside a young Baudry "Les Granges" for a little more insight.

[David M. Bueker]

Hmm...competitively priced in comparison to the Baudry. That's unusual for California wine.

Yup -- it's comparable to the price of Baudry's basic bottling, what, a decade ago? More? This is the second time this week: the Tablas Creek Vermentino more than held its own with the Ligurian bottling, at a 20% lower price.

The Bebamé is a wine I make for AHA Wines, which is the project of Don Heistuman and Jayme Armstrong, of Portland, OR. It's fun for me to have the chance to explore Cabernet Franc, which I greatly enjoy.

talk about an "A Ha" moment..