Commentary and analysis of the Steven Kent Winery, 2021 Ghielmetti Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley, California

Commentary and analysis of the Echolands Vineyard, 2019 Cabernet Franc (Blue Mountain Vineyard), Walla Walla Valley AVA, Washington State, USA

Commentary and analysis of the Heron Hill, 2020 Ingle Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York, USA

Commentary and analysis of the Early Mountain, 2019 Quaker Run Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Central Virginia, Virginia, USA

This past Sunday I made the trek to Washington DC to attend a wine dinner featuring the wines of none other than Oregon’s Cabernet Franc queen Leah Jørgensen.

After first committing to curating a list of my most memorable wines of the year, I looked back with a moment of pause and a regretful "UGH" at the thought of having to "choose" some of my favourite wines of the year. I mean, these wines are like my children, I love them all so dearly, how can I pick my favourites? Then upon further reflection, and reviewing my photos, videos and notes from 2021, I did realize that there were indeed some standout Cabernet Francs that I enjoyed this year, although perhaps not for the most obvious reasons.