Wine Recommendation
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Wine Recommendation

Raphael

2004 Cabernet Franc
(North Fork of Long Island)


Raphael's 2004 Cabernet Franc ($18), fermented 100% in stainless steel (at 70 degrees), is a medium ruby-colored wine offers that aromatic qualities you'd expect from this variety, with fresh red cherry, violets and subtle herbal qualities.

The palate is light bodied and fresh, with cherry flavor that leans toward cherry soda (without the sugary sweetness of course) because of tongue-tingling acidity. The tannins are low and I'd recommend drinking this wine withing the next few years, preferably with food. It can probably even handle a slight chill, making it a nice wine for summer parties and grilled foods.

Reviewed May 2, 2006 by Lenn Thompson.

 

The Wine

Winery: Raphael
Vintage: 2004
Wine: Cabernet Franc
Appellation: North Fork of Long Island
Grape: Cabernet Franc

Review Date: 5/2/2006

The Reviewer

Lenn Thompson

Lenn Thompson writes about New York wines for Dan's Papers,
Long Island Press, Long Island Wine Gazette, Edible East End and Hamptons.com. Two words describe his taste in wine — balance and nuance. Lenn prefers food-friendly, elegant wines to jammy, over-extracted fruit bombs and heavy-handed oak. When reviewing, Lenn tastes each wine three times — alone right after opening, with food, and again the next day — believing that 90-second reviews are unrealistic and not how the average person enjoys wine.