Commentary and analysis of the Southbrook Vineyards, 2020 Saunders Vineyard Cabernet Franc, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

Commentary and analysis of the Domaine du Bel Air, 2018 Bourgueil ‘Clos Nouveau’

I have discovered that when a person chooses to grow and/or work with Cabernet Franc in regions where it is not necessarily the obvious choice, it is often because of a deep love of Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. And one family’s passion for Cabernet Franc, led me to discover a bottle from a rather unlikely place - Germany!

Commentary and analysis of the Domaine Grosbois, 2017 Chinon “Clos du Noyer”

Commentary and analysis of the Argentiera, 2011 Lavinia Maria, Bolgheri (IGT Toscana), Italy

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 Domaine des Roches Neuves (Thierry Germain), 2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”

When an exceptional vigneron is working with a high quality site/vineyard for Cabernet Franc, vintage is not something I concern myself with as it relates to the inherent quality of the finished wine. In my opinion, a wine of very good quality will be produced from these top sites in the hands of a top vigneron in ANY vintage.

Commentary and analysis of the Domaine Philippe Alliet, 2018 Chinon ‘L’Huisserie’

In May I was invited to lead a wine dinner for the Commanderie de Bordeaux chapter in Mexico City. Naturally the theme of the dinner was Cabernet Franc, and I had the pleasure to present and showcase some of the top examples from Bordeaux and the Loire.

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

Commentary and analysis of the Fogolar Wines, 2016 Picone Vineyard Cabernet Franc, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

Commentary and analysis of the Domaine Filliatreau, 2001 Saumur-Champigny “Vieilles Vignes”

Commentary and analysis of the Domaine de la Chevalerie, 2015 Bourgueil ‘Les Galichets’

Commentary and analysis of the Garage Wine Co., 2018 Las Higueras Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Maule, Central Valley, Chile

Commentary and analysis of the Domaine Xavier et Agnès Amirault, 2019 St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil “Les Gravilices”

Commentary and analysis of the Domaine des Closiers, 2020 Saumur-Champigny “Les Closiers”

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Chambers in Manhattan - the post-pandemic reincarnation of Racines NY, which existed in the same space. The food, hospitality and vibe exceeded my expectations. But let’s be serious here. I went to Chambers for the wine list.

Commentary and analysis of the Christian Tschida, 2018 Non-Tradition Red, Burgenland, Austria

Commentary and analysis of the Manoir de la Bellonnière (Patrice et Alexandre Moreau), 2020 Chinon ‘Les Battereaux’