NiagaraCOOL Cab Franc Tasting

It was a fun day with a very nice selection of wines. I did take time out from cooking to make my way down the table and blind taste all 20 wines. However, due to a shortage of writing implements, and a hectic cooking schedule, I was not able to write down the names of the wines we tasted. Thanks to Robin's post I edited this post accordingly and now have the names of all the wineries. We used the AWS 20 point system. My scores ranged from 11 to 18, with 12 rated 16 or better, so the overall group had some very nice wines.

#1 - 18 Barboursville Vineyards 2004 Virginia Cabernet Franc Reserve
#2 - 12 Lake Anna 2004 Virginia Cabernet Franc
#3 - 14 Anthony Road 2005 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc-Lemberger
#4 - 11 Raylen 2004 North Carolina Cabernet Franc (tasted like olives)
#5 - 14 Bernard Baudry 2005 Chinon "Les Granges"
#6 - 18 Sheldrake Point 2004 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc
#7 - 16 Clos de la Lysardiere 2004 Chinon
#8 - 16 Breton 2002 Bourgueil "Les Galichets" (a hint of sulfur & medicine, bit very nice finish)
#9 - 18 J.-M. Raffault 2005 Chinon "Les Galuches"
#10 - 12 Cilento 1999 Niagara Peninsula Ontario Cabernet Franc
#11 - 16 Vineland 2005 Niagara Peninsula Ontario Cabernet Franc
#12 - 13 Hermann J. Weimer 2005 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc
#13 - 16 La Croix Boissee 1996 Chinon
#14 - 16 Hart's Wine Cellars 2005 Cabernet Franc (this was my home made '05 sourced from Ontario)
#15 - 12 Windham Way 2004 Virginia Cabernet Franc
#16 - 15 Niagara Landing Lake Erie Cabernet Franc (very light - just above a Rose)
#17 - 17 Domaine du Grand Breviande Chinon
#18 - 17 Joguet Clos de la Diotiere 1986 Chinon (the last 3 were Loires, entered late by Mark Criden)
#19 - 17 Joguet Clos de la Diotiere 1996 Chinon
#20 - 18 Clos Rugeard 1999 Chinon

[James Roscoe]

As I sit sipping this wonderful Hart rose thatis easily a 17/18 on the 20 point scale, I would point out the Barboursville from VA is the '04. I gave it a 17 myself. It was a solid effort from Virginia. Number two was the 2004 Lake Anna cabernet franc I bought. I marked it as a twelve as well. I rated #14 as my only 18 point wine. This was before I knew it was Howie's. It was excellent!

[Robin Garr]

When someone else posts with the names, I'll edit this post accordingly, but I thought I'd at least get the ball rolling so others could chime in and help me out here.

Oops! Dang! I posted my WTNs in a separate thread before I saw this, Howie. But I did write down all the wine names (as best I could get them down in a hurry).

Thanks Robin, I've edited my post with the names of the wines.

Here's the lineup:


Numbers 1-4


Numbers 5-8


Numbers 9-12


Numbers 13-16


Numbers 16-20

Its good to see that the Barboursville fared so well. I really like Luca's wines and his Cab Franc is the wine that turned my wife around on the varietal.