I tasted all of the current releases from more than 40 members of the California Cabernet Society and the belle of the ball turned out to be a Cabernet Franc from Calistoga.
The 2007 Kenefick Ranch Winery Caitlin’s Select Cab Franc was outstanding.
Historically, Cabernet Franc is used in Bordeaux-style blends with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. On its own, it can sometimes be a shrinking violet, but not in this case.
Tom Kenefick, Kenefick Ranch Winery
I found the Kenefick Cab Franc ($52) to be the most complete and ready to drink wine of the tasting, which was held earlier this week at the Bentley Reserve in San Francisco.
It was round with sweet red fruit countered by a nice level of tannins. A bit of oak, but not too much, was the crowning touch on this red cherry-scented wine.
Dr. Thomas Kenefick, a retired San Francisco neurosurgeon, is the winery founder and namesake.
Kenefick started his second career with the purchase of vineyards in the northern end of the Napa Valley.
The 125-acre Kenefick estate features vineyards planted along the edge of the Palisade Mountains.
The retired surgeon picked a great spot, adjacent to the Arajuo Estate, which produces elegant world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from the esteemed Eisele Vineyard.
Kenefick operates mostly as a grower.
He only entered the winemaking side of the business in earnest in 2002 when a couple of his clients opted out of their contracts and he had to find something to do with those grapes.
Entre Nous – Between Us
There was a wave of good Cabernet Sauvignon in the tasting, but one really stood out from the pack.
The 2009 Entre Nous Cabernet Sauvignon from Kristine Ashe Vineyards is a spectacular bottle of Napa red wine. 
Winemaker Phillipe Melka — who also has worked for Lail,Vineyards, Bryant Family, 100 Acre and Vineyard 29 — has crafted a memorable wine here from hand-picked and hand-sorted grapes grown in one-acre “micro blocks” on the 25-acre Ashe estate in Oakville.
The Entre Nous (which means “between us” in French) is a vivacious mouthful of deep purple juice.
The taste of this $120 wine lingers in the mouth for what seems like forever.
The wine is a swirl of rich red fruits and soft tannins that begs for another sip… and another.
Tags: 100 acres, arajuo estate, bryant family, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, calistoga wine, entre nous wine, kenefick ranch winery, kristine ashe vineyards, lail vineyards, phillipe melka, thomas kenefick, vineyard 29
May 15, 2012 at 7:49 pm |
Great meeting you at the tasting last week. Thanks for the very kind words about our wine. Please note the 2009 Entre Nous Cabernet is $155 (not $120 as listed). Hope to see you in Napa – let us know when you’re in town.
May 15, 2012 at 9:13 pm |
Thanks, Alicia for your comments and for the winery price info. Online, I found prices for your Cabernet ranging from $120-$155. Keep up the great work and I hope to see you in Napa soon!
May 17, 2012 at 5:04 pm |
Congrats to Kent Jarman!