Full Review

Danenberger Family Vineyards

Danenberger Family Vineyards
2020 Double Barrel Bourbon Barrel-Aged, Cabernet Franc, Illinois

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 15.3%
86 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$32

Danenberger Family Vineyards
2020 Double Barrel Bourbon Barrel-Aged, Cabernet Franc, Illinois

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 15.3%
Light garnet color. Aromas and flavors of 90% dark chocolate, leather, and bourbon with a round, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a peppery, interesting, medium-length finish conveying elements of bourbon county proprietor’s stout, bourbon, and kale and asparagus with woody, chewy tannins and heavy oak flavor. An interesting coffee and barrel forward treat to try on occasion.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: 90% dark chocolate, leather, and bourbon
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with elements of bourbon county proprietor's stout, bourbon, and kale and asparagus
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now
Recipes Pairing: Pot Roast, Steak & Potatoes, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: An interesting coffee and barrel forward treat to try on occasion.

The Producer

Danenberger Family Vineyards

The Producer
12341 Irish Rd
New Berlin, IL 62670
USA
1 217-488-6321

Cabernet Franc

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Cabernet Franc is a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is ideally suited to cooler climates, as it buds and ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. Additionally, it is less susceptible to poor weather during harvest. In the Medoc and Graves region of Bordeaux, where it typically constitutes about 15% of the final blend, it is seen as a measure of insurance against poor cabernet sauvignon or merlot weather. Cabernet franc used to be planted almost as widely as cabernet sauvignon in Bordeaux well into the 60s, but cabernet sauvignon had swung into such favor that 30 years later it had twice the acreage of cabernet franc.

Cabernet Franc tends to be lighter in color and tannins than cabernet sauvignon, with an earlier-maturing character. On Bordeaux's Right Bank, cabernet franc has a stronger foothold, and is best known as the dominant grape in the blend for the famed château, Cheval Blanc. It is the most widely planted red varietal in the Loire, where it yields lighter wines, like Chinon, with distinct herbal overtones. US cabernet francs are still largely in the experimental stage; there is a huge spectrum of interpretations, from heavy Napa wines to lighter styles from the East Coast.

Cabernet Franc is noted for its deep ruby red color and peppery, spicy character. It has moderate tannins and good acidity. Generally a Cabernet Franc should be consumed with some age - at least five years - while the finest versions drink well for more than twenty years.

Pair Cabernet Franc with hearty foods such as wild game, game birds and roasts.