Andrew Rich Cabernet Franc 08

The first Cab Franc from Andrew since the 2006, this is one of our favorite Andrew Rich wines - it's just hardly ever available.

The more 2008 Washington reds I taste, the more I love the vintage. Andrew's 08 Cab Franc comes from the now-famous Red Willow Vineyard (source of super-highly rated Syrah from Owen Roe, for starters). Sporting notes of ancho pepper and rich, dark berries, this is a perfect middle point between a massive Washington red and a more elegant Pinot. Recommended.

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

The Andrew Rich 2006 Cabernet Franc is round and approachable, with lovely varietal flavors. Juicy blueberries and blackberries and black currant are joined by notes of licorice, graphite, and truffle. One of the best values in Northwest Cabernet Franc.

Andrew Rich says:

"I have a confession to make. Early in its career, the '05 Cab Franc struck us as less than a stellar wine. Too disjointed, all elbows and knees, a little...weird. (Some might say that's the very definition of Cab Franc.) Figuring a bit of socialization would do it good, we blended it along with some assorted scoundrels that were frequenting our cellar at the time (cf. 2005 M?salliance). Luckily we're always second-guessing ourselves, and we left unblended our favorite barrel and a stainless steel drum as an experiment.

Well, time has a way of turning even the gangliest of adolescents into self-assured adults. Skilled blending helps, too: the wine in barrel became rounded and smooth, with a spicy nose and a touch of earth. The lot in stainless retained its primary fruit-strawberries and cherries-but a leaner mouthfeel. Our blend includes just a touch more of the barrel, and we knitted it all together with a five percent addition of Malbec.