2015 Field Recordings Wine Cabernet Franc, Paso Robles
Overripe raspberry fruit, low acid and sweet with a noxiously chemical nuance similar to Raid bug spray. DNPIM.
2014 Tamarack Cellars Cabernet Franc Wahluke Slope
Well-made, populist style wine: fruit forward, big bodied, with vanilla and malty malo flavors muting everything angular and brambly cab franc lovers tend to love about the grape. So not for snobs like me, but a qualitative step up for the 14 Hands crowd wanting to see what $25 buys.
2004 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend
Tired.
2011 Barrage Cellars Cabernet Franc Outcast Columbia Valley
Spicy dark red fruit with cedar undertones. Got richer and deeper over the course of two hours (decanting recommended). Would look for it to peak in about two years--great showing for a difficult vintage.
2004 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux Cabernet Franc
Evidence of secondary fermentation: cloudy with a tad of spritz; raspberry flavors tainted with stewed cabbage.
2011 Eaglemount Cabernet Franc Wahluke Slope
Tasted over two days with definite improvement on the 2nd day: more focused, more complex franc typicity. Shows very well for the vintage.
2013 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Dry Stack Bennett Valley
Expecting a lot based on the 11's and 12's from other single VY Bevans that swept me off my feet, this first shot at a '13 and the Dry Stack was a huge disappointment. Overripe midpalate fuit with cloying, bitter residual sugar on the finish. Thumbs down from all four Sauv Blanc lovers present.
2008 Maryhill Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley
Attractive mature nose. Past peak with resolved tannins, but cruising nicely here.
2014 Saviah Cellars Syrah The Jack Columbia Valley
Great QPR: Tar and black fruit on the nose, Rocks funk on the palate. Unusually true syrah character for $13.
2015 Saviah Cellars Syrah The Jack Columbia Valley
Excessively grapey, and missing the tar and funk that made the '14 so compelling. Pass!
2013 Whidbey Island Winery Cabernet Franc Yakima Valley
In a blind tasting of six moderately priced cabernet francs, most from Washington, this little gem took first place. Spicy, fragrant nose, with red fruit on the palate and a bright, complex finish. Gained weight with air.