Happy Saturday! It's been a hectic week, but now it's time to relax with a nice dinner and glass of wine. Tonight, I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Washington producers that has been in the cellar for more than a year. The 2021 Helix Cabernet Francis a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington. Let's see how this wine is shaping up a half decade into its life!
The wine is a deep ruby color, with an inky black at the center, just as you might expect from this traditional blending varietal. A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, baking spice, blackberry and currant, a wonderfully earthy identity that will have you thinking of Bordeaux. The first sip is a rush of warm ripe fruit, blackberry, currant and plum intermingled with earthy spice notes and smoky charred oak that will have you waiting for another sip. The tannins are subdued, creating a nice base for a long dry finish, with a reprise of dark spice and smoke.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine that would be welcome at a range of occasions. This wine would pair well with a variety of roast meats, stews and hearty pasta dishes as you transition from winter to spring. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an ideal dinner transition between the seasons, a grilled bone-in ribeye with some oven roasted sweet potatoes with julienne green peppers and steamed sugar snap peas. Cheers!
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