Cabernet Franc

Note: This wine received Best of Show honors at the 2006 Tri-Cities Wine Festival on November 11, 2006.

Barrister Winery 2004 (about $25): One thing that bothers me a bit about most of the Cabernet Franc I’ve tried is that it always seems to have a green pepper/vegetal sort of flavor that really isn’t very appealing. But Barrister’s Greg Lipsker and Michael White have truly become the masters of this varietal, making their Cabernet Franc into a tasty, fruit-forward wine that has been earning accolades and keeping red wine drinkers extremely happy.

This wine really is the complete package; beautiful aroma, big berry flavors, soft tannins and a long, silky finish. It recently received the equivalent of a double gold medal at the Indianapolis International Wine competition – one of only 85 wines out of 3,800 entrants to be so honored. Not bad for a little winery out of Spokane, Washington, where the future continues to look bright.