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Mission Codename: The Knights Templar

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Infiltrate Adobe Road and return, finally, with their Cabernet Franc

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Adobe Road Winery

Wine Subject: 2005 Cabernet Franc – Knights Valley

Winemaker: Franc Dusak

Backgrounder: Its no secret that The Wine Spies love Adobe Road wines. When Agent Red first tasted their Cabernet Franc back in 2007, he was hooked. Unfortunately for our Operatives, the winery was totally sold out of the current vintage. Today, Agent Red finally gets his hands on a handful of cases of the current vintage!

As you know, Cabernet Franc is one of Agent Red’s favorite red varietals. Perhaps this is because its flavors are often rich, layered, complex and elegant. Or, perhaps he loves Cabernet Franc so much because it pairs so exceptionally with many different foods. One of the most notable things about Cabernet Franc is the fact that finding excellent examples can be very difficult. Read Red’s tasting notes and mission report below for the full intel on today’s superb wine

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look -Beautiful, dark burgundy in color, with great clarity through its darkly concentrated heart. When swirled, the surface of the wine appears speedy and bouncy, settleing quickly as it leaves behindultra-skinny legs that take a long time to appear before the move slowly down the glass

Smell – Bright fruit cranberry, red cherry, and raspberry, with added notes of vanilla, sweetwood, toast and soft oak

Feel – Initially, very wet and then smooth and cool on the mid-palate where it has a slight drying effect

Taste – Dark cranberry, raspberry, tart plum, tart dark cherry, stems, soft earth and smoky violets

Finish -Smooth at first with bright fruit flavors that linger as an all-over-mouth dryness appears

Conclusion -This is a superb and delicious Cabernet Franc that was absolutely worth the long wait! This wine is bright and juicy, but with a refined austerity that does not take itself too seriously. There is no pretension here, just fun, with authentic fruit and slight floral/vegital flavors that work together in harmony.

Mission Report:

“Congratulations, Red. You finally did it!”

“Thanketh thee, Agent White. T’was not easy, but in the end my bravery won out and I was able to fight gallantly. the battle was long and arduous, but, of course, victory was finally mine.”

“Riiiight. Good work on securing that Cabernet Franc from Adobe Road. I know that you really wanted that wine.”

“Indeed, my good sir. In order to win the favor of Lady Adobe, I had to fight valiantly. In the she relented. Here’s a song I wrote for the occasion:

_The scent of the Franc is in the air,

Its flavors bold and bright,

With largess of blossom and perfume rare

The perfect wine delight,

And the fairies tread a measure fair

To the chime by the blue-bells rung.

And the Cab Franc vines carol unafraid,

For no man may do them wrong,

While King Arthur’s knights pass down the glade,

And each, as he rides along,

Wending his way by sun and shade,

Beguileth the hour with song.

With that, Agent Red gets a dreamy look on his face. He grins at Agent White and then lays his head down on his desk. A moment later, Agent White spots the empty Adobe Road bottle.

Agent White rolls his eye at the now-snoring Agent Red, turns on his heel and walks briskly out of Agent Red’s office…..