Napa Valley's Cosentino Winery is the next stop for the 12 Days of Cabernet Franc. Cosentino, located in Yountville is one of a small handful of wineries I feel the compelling desire to visit every single time I'm in Napa. There are multiple reasons for this, but 2 stand out above the rest. First of all they're a consistent producer of quality wines at many different price levels. Secondly, they have one of the most diverse portfolios of any Winery in Napa Valley. They're best known for their two Zinfandels, Cigarzin and The Zin. Truth be told, Cigarzin was the first of their wines that I had, years ago. Outside of those though, they make a staggering variety of wines, both single varietal and blends. Blending is probably one of the biggest assets Mitch Cosentino uses to great effect. They were in fact the first winery in America to bottle a Meritage. They make several Cabernet Francs, today I'll look at their Reserve.
The 2005 Cosentino Reserve Cabernet Franc is 100% varietal. This is a single vineyard offering, with all fruit sourced at the Carpenter Vineyard in St. Helena. This Franc was aged in a combination of one, two and three year old oak barrels for 33 months. 825 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $50.
The nose of this Cosentino Franc is filled with cloves, dark berry fruit, leather, and spice notes. Throughout the palate, it's full bodied, rich and mouth filling, with continued leather notes, as well as black raspberry, Cinnamon, and pie crust notes. Plum pudding spices kick in at the back of the mid-palate and continue through the lengthy finish, along with chocolate covered cherry notes, mineral, and subtle cola notes. This is an impeccably balanced wine with good acidity. It drinks nicely on its own and will also match a wide array of foods.
Having had numerous vintages of this particular wine, what I like best is the consistency, and quality it displays year after year. Cosentino has done an excellent job over the long haul, this Franc continues their track record of well made, complex wines. This Cabernet Franc will improve for at least 5 years and drink well for 5 after that. If you're going ti drink it now, I strongly suggest decanting it for at least an hour, so it shows its best. Either way, I recommend this Franc highly, as I do Cosentino Winery as a whole.
Up Next: More Cabernet Franc!