Clos LaChance Estate Cabernet Franc 2004
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"Cabernet Franc, which comprises roughly 2/3rds of the blend of Château Cheval Blanc--one of Bordeaux's greatest wines--is a tricky grape to get right. It produces wines with a distinctly vegetal character if it doesn't ripen adequately. Fortunately, Clos LaChance got this one right. Theirs, like Cabernet Franc in general, lacks the power of Cabernet Sauvignon, but makes up for it with a Merlot-like earthiness and elegance. Here's a wine for veal."
Wine Review Online 90/100
Cabernet Franc, a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the subtler and more delicate of the Cabernets. Today Cabernet Franc produces outstanding single varietal wines across the wine-producing world. Somm Secret—One of California's best-kept secrets is the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Barbara. Here Cabernet Franc shines as a single varietal wine or in blends, expressing sumptuous fruit, savory aromas and polished tannins.
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.