09 Dec Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Lang and Reed 2016 Two Fourteen Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley

December 4th may have been Cabernet Franc Day but we do not need a special day to drink Cabernet Franc. After all, when you taste Cabernet Franc, you will understand how delicious it is and how versatile it can be. And that is why the Lang and Reed 2016 Two Fourteen Cabernet Franc is this week’s Please The Palate wine of the week. Cabernet Franc is one of the world’s top 20 planted grapes. It is a primary grape in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley and can also be found in Italy, Argentina, Canada, California, Washington, New York, and Virginia, as well as Hungary and China. Cabernet Franc is a parent to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Carménère. When Tracey & John Skupny started Lang & Reed, named after their two sons, in Napa Valley in 1993, their goal was to explore the distinct charms of Cabernet Franc. While Cabernet Franc is an important component in Bordeaux blends, they wanted to express the range of aromatics and flavors of Cabernet Franc. Producing three different expressions of Cabernet Franc, sourced from different vineyards in Napa Valley and the North Coast, I was enamored with the Lang and Reed 2016 Two Fourteen Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley. Made from 100% Clone 214 Cabernet Franc (hence the name), the wine is a deep purple color. The nose is very aromatic with bright fruit notes of cherries and raspberries. There are also pretty violet and baking spice aromas. On the palate, the wine is medium+ bodied with soft tannins and a long, juicy finish. Cabernet Franc is versatile and can pair with a variety of foods. I enjoyed the Lang and Reed 2016 Two Fourteen Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, which retails for $85, with dim sum pork dumplings and spare ribs but the wine can be also be enjoyed with goat cheese and crackers. So, don’t wait for Cabernet Franc Day each December, drink Cabernet Franc any day!