Autumn Hill Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve

Cranberry rim with a blue-black core. A nose of raspberry, black olive, sandalwood, but light and just a background note, tobo and eventually the distinctive pine resin, brown sugar and blueberry. Every element comes through in both the bouquet and the palate, distinctly, clearly and cleanly. Amazing depth and richness that is very rare for a Va. wine. But for the intensity of the resin, this would be a great wine. This is an amazingly good wine. 12% alc. Paired …

An opaque core shading to burgundy then cranberry on the rim. A bit of brett on the nose followed by smoke, raspberry and leather. A bit of brett on the attack but less than on the nose. Again, smoke, raspberry, bing cherry, olives, leather all follow leading up to tobo on the finish. Absolutely no sediment in the bottle. This is so related to, but so different from the ‘98 we enjoyed the other night, what with its softer, rounder …

Autumn Hill’s better Cab. Francs. The body is lighter than it could be, but the grapes seemed to have achieved a ripeness and depth similar to ’98. Raspberry and mocha with some spice (but I couldn’t say sandlewood, really). Not a complex wine and no layers of flavors, but a solid wine that delivers pleasure. With buffalo burgers (in a panade of sour cream and herbs).

Monday, December 06, 2004 Not sure when I had this ... just sometime in December. It was fine, but with a greeness on the finish. Good structure that will carry the wine for a while. Don’t recall the pairing. Sunday, October 30, 2005 Not clear and clean, cloudy with a maroon color, but no bricking at the rim. Nose of plum, red currants, cherry and chocolate. Very drying tannins with tea and red currant notes. Sufficient, but nothing to write …