Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Cabernet Franc was aged for nine months in new and large oak casks (half French, half Austrian-Slavonian). It comes in at 12.9% alcohol. This is the first vintage of the Cab Franc made in the large oak casks—meant to reduce the oak impact. It's beautiful, fresh, structured and classic. There are olive nuances around the edges, black fruits and plenty of power. The structure is superb. It handles the wood beautifully—the new regimen seems like a big success. It could use another year or two of cellaring, although it is approachable now, and it will age well. This is another super value from Ravines. There were about 1,800 cases made. It's terrific, reasonably priced, available and able to age. What's not to like?
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.
As the most historic wine-producing region in New York state, winemaking in the Finger Lakes area dates back to the 1820s and today as a region, accounts for 90% of the state’s total wine production.
Its narrow and deep lakes created by the movement of Ice Age glaciers create an environment similar to the classic Riesling-loving regions of Europe, namely Germany and Austria. The Finger Lakes retain summer heat that incidentally warms up cold winter air, making it fall down from the lakes’ steep slopes. When spring comes, the lakes, already cooled by cold winter weather, stave off vine budding until the danger of frost has subsided. The main lakes of the zone, that is those big enough to moderate the climate in this way, are the focal points of prime vineyard areas. They include Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga.
While Riesling has fueled most of the region’s success, today Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc enjoy some attention.