Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc 08

Review:

2008 Wine Spectator - 92 points - Velvety, with a mild grip to the tannins around a supple core of blackberry and black cherry fruit, shading rose petal and cardamom notes around the long finish. Drink now through 2015. 174 cases made. – H.S.

88% Cabernet Franc, 6% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Riverbend Vineyard. The richest, darkest Cabernet Franc Fielding has produced since the 2005 vintage, this is a very big, hearty, muscular wine.

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

A standout Washington Cabernet Franc. The Riverbend Vineyard is producing some of the richest Cab Franc in Washington. Lush chocolate cherry liquor wafts from the glass. Plenty of ripeness enhances the creamy chocolate and giant black cherry and blackberry flavors. In the finish, red fruit (raspberry, tart red cherry) add vibrance, and pepper, baking spices, and bramble add depth. As the wine opens, smoke and a meatiness emerge in the flavor. Tasted 9-21-09 - Jean

The nose opens with sweet oak and spice, then comes the plum, red raspberry, and bramble. Great mouthfeel with rippin' acid, very present but pleasant tannins; spice, bramble, and red fruits on the palate as well, with a long chocolate covered cherry finish. My favorite of the bunch, the red fruits and acid kept it clean, not cloying. - tasted 9-22-09 - Adrienne

2006 Vintage Tasting Notes

2006 Wine Spectator - 92 points - Lithe, supple and brimming with raspberry, mulberry and floral aromas and flavors, this glides over the tongue like silk and remains effusive and expressive through the long finish. Drink now through 2014. - H.S."

For the second vintage in a row, Fielding Hills' "sleeper wine" is the Cab Franc. Fantastic aromas of baking spice, licorice, fragrant red berries, and distant cedar smoke.

The supple flavors offer and perfect combination of fresh and jammy raspberry with darker berry and spicy currant emerging. A trace of minerality shines through the creamy finish, and you're left thinking of the myriad dishes you could pair with this stellar Cab Franc.

2005 Vintage Tasting Notes

2005 Wine Spectator - 91 points - Ripe, supple and distinctive for its chamomile-scented blackberry and currant fruit, seductively balanced to submerge its soft tannins and let the flavors soar. Drink now through 2012. 119 cases made. - H.S.

The 2005 Cabernet Franc is a real standout in Fielding's finest vintage yet. Ripe, with a dark, almost black color, showing myriad fruit flavors and hints of mineral and garrigue-like dried herbs in nose and on palate. Characteristic Cabernet Franc hints of pencil lead.

The 2005 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc's scents are complex, incorporating slate, pencil lead, restrained red and black fruit and lots of mineral notes. Flavors are totally ripe sweet black fruit highlighted by white pepper and tremendously appealing desert herbs/garrigue. Plum, black cherry, black raspberry, sage, marjoram, field dust, white pepper, and licorice. The finish of this wine is smooth, enhancing the complexity of the wine by providing contrast - the liltingly refreshing acidity is balanced against the lush richness of ripe fruit.

2004 Vintage Tasting Notes

2004 Wine Enthusiast - 91 points - Lush, dense, crowdpleasing and rare. Made with Estate fruit from Fielding's Riverbend Vineyard. The wine is 76% Cabernet Franc, 8% Syrah, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 8% Merlot. It was aged in 76% new oak barrels for 19 months. The barrels were a mix of American and French oak. Only 28 cases were made.