Cabernet Franc Duo Accompany Steak Fajitas Family Dinner
We spent a week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina with the kids and grand-kids. Son Ryan and I brought along a mixed case of wine to accompany our family dinners.
With hurricane Jose stirring offshore (see wave action to the right), we hunkered down inside the beach house for the opening family dinner of our family vacation.
We had steak fajitas and opened two bright, bold and spicy Cabernet Franc Bordeaux varietal based wines as accompaniment - Ryan brought a Justin Justification from Paso Robles, and I brought a Del Dotto Napa Valley Cabernet Franc to compare.
The spicy character of these Cabernet Franc wines was appropriately suited to the bolder fajita preparation.
'Justification' is the 'Right Bank' Bordeaux varietal based Red Blend from Justin Winery and Vineyards.
'Right Bank' refers to the style or blend of grape varietals indigenous to the Right or north or east side of the diagonally flowing Gironde River that runs through the Bordeaux region of southwestern France. Wines from that side tend to be predominantly Merlot with high (er) percentages of Cabernet Franc. Wines from the 'left bank' or south and west side of the river tend to favor Cabernet Sauvignon.
Justin Justification Paso Robles Red Wine 2014
This is Justin's Right Bank Red Blend which features 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot.
Deep ruby colored, full bodied, concentrated core of firm black current and black cherry fruits accented by graphite and cedar with notes of anise, cinnamon spice and hints of dark cocoa with moderate full tannins on a long lingering finish.
RM 89 points
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2300779
https://www.justinwine.com/
Del Dotto Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 1999
Our winery visit and cellar tasting tour at the Del Dotto Cellars in Rutherford just south of St Helena was a highlight of our recent 2017 trip to Napa Valley.
This is nearing the end of our 1999 collection of Del Dotto Napa Valley Bordeaux varietals which is part of our vertical collection dating back to that era.
At eighteen years, this is showing its age as the berry fruits are starting to give way to non fruit flavors of game, earth, leather and cedar. dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, the black berry and bright black cherry fruits are offset by the non-fruit flavors. Time to drink up as this is in its late stages of its drinking window.
RM 87 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=37725
http://www.deldottovineyards.com/
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| Ocean side of our beach house in Corolla |
With hurricane Jose stirring offshore (see wave action to the right), we hunkered down inside the beach house for the opening family dinner of our family vacation.
The spicy character of these Cabernet Franc wines was appropriately suited to the bolder fajita preparation.
'Justification' is the 'Right Bank' Bordeaux varietal based Red Blend from Justin Winery and Vineyards.
'Right Bank' refers to the style or blend of grape varietals indigenous to the Right or north or east side of the diagonally flowing Gironde River that runs through the Bordeaux region of southwestern France. Wines from that side tend to be predominantly Merlot with high (er) percentages of Cabernet Franc. Wines from the 'left bank' or south and west side of the river tend to favor Cabernet Sauvignon.
Justin Justification Paso Robles Red Wine 2014
Deep ruby colored, full bodied, concentrated core of firm black current and black cherry fruits accented by graphite and cedar with notes of anise, cinnamon spice and hints of dark cocoa with moderate full tannins on a long lingering finish.
RM 89 points
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2300779
https://www.justinwine.com/
Our winery visit and cellar tasting tour at the Del Dotto Cellars in Rutherford just south of St Helena was a highlight of our recent 2017 trip to Napa Valley.
This is nearing the end of our 1999 collection of Del Dotto Napa Valley Bordeaux varietals which is part of our vertical collection dating back to that era.
At eighteen years, this is showing its age as the berry fruits are starting to give way to non fruit flavors of game, earth, leather and cedar. dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, the black berry and bright black cherry fruits are offset by the non-fruit flavors. Time to drink up as this is in its late stages of its drinking window.
RM 87 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=37725
http://www.deldottovineyards.com/