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Madroña Vineyards Signature Cabernet Franc
Year
2009
2009
Varietal
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Style
Spicy
Spicy
Origin
United States
United States
Pairing
Meat
Meat
$20.00 per bottle
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Origin
Most of inland California is too warm to grow fine wine
grapes, which is why most high-end viticulture is based
on the coast. But the high elevations of the Sierra
Nevada provide a relief from summer heat, as the
hot, sunbaked days cool down considerably at night.
In addition, lean mountain soils make an ideal home
for full-bodied, heat-loving red-grape varieties like
Syrah, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, which have
become the region’s specialties. Madroña Vineyard, in
El Dorado County, is one of the outstanding properties
of the region. Pairings
Cabernet Franc is similar to Cabernet
Sauvignon and pairs well with many of
the same foods. The difference is that
the former is often lighter in structure
and body, boasts higher acidity and carries
more savory flavors—all favorable
qualities for matching with food. It’s
hard to top a charcoal-grilled steak with
Cabernet Franc, but lamb chops, with
their grassy overtones, work beautifully
as well. The peppery edge of this wine
suggests dry, Eastern spices, peppers
and fresh herbs as accents to the meat.
Serve at room temperature (64°F). Winemaker
Thirty-five years ago Dick Bush, a
Stanford engineer, and his wife Leslie
fell in love with a piece of property high
up in the Sierra Foothills near the town
of Placerville. At the time they planted
it to grape vines, it was, at 3,000 feet,
the highest vineyard in California. Over
the years, the Bushes along with their
four children and growing extended
family, planted out the property and designed
the home and winery, ultimately
outfitting the property for the long
haul of legacy for family and wine. In
the lean, volcanic mountain soils they
planted a number of varieties, including
Cabernet Franc. The grape, which
often produces wines with a “green” or
vegetal edge elsewhere in California,
makes lush, deeply fruited wines here. The Wine
Madroña’s signature collection Cabernet
Franc comes from vineyards whose
vines were grafted from Zinfandel in
1983. Despite relatively deep soils on
a west-facing hillside, the 30-year-old
vines are low yielding, producing only
1.5 to 2.5 tons of fruit per acre—paltry
yields for what is often a prolific
variety. The concentration and depth
that results is evident in this 2009 vintage,
which pits deep red currant and
cherry aromas against savory scents of
tobacco, tea, pepper and smoke. The
mouth has a nice balance, with pepper
and dark chocolate working alongside a
core of cherry fruit. Recently Viewed :
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