Virginia

REVIEW: Early Mountain Vineyards 2015 Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc

Item: REVIEW: Early Mountain Vineyards 2015 Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc
Rating: 88
Author: Lenn Thompson

By Lenn Thompson on May 21, 2018 0 Comments

REVIEW: Early Mountain Vineyards 2015 Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc

88 points

Black and blue fruits (berries and plums) show some dried herb overtones on a classic, varietally correct nose. The palate shows similar fruit qualities, but the earthy and savory side is much more prominent. Fruit bomb-lovers needn't apply here. Silky mouthfeel with some gritty tannins at the end of a long, earthy finish. This is a cabernet franc-lover's cabernet franc.

Producer: Early Mountain Vineyards
Region: Virginia
ABV: 13.75%
Price: $34*

* Review sample provided by the winery

About Author

Lenn Thompson

Lenn Thompson, a proud Pittsburgh, PA native, moved to Long Island more than a decade ago and quickly fell in love with the region’s dynamic and emerging wine community. A digital and content marketing and community professional by day, he founded NewYorkCorkReport.com in early 2004 to share his passion for the wines, beers and spirits of New York State. After running that site -- which became the premier source for independent New York wine commentary, reviews and news -- for 12 years, he launched TheCorkReport.us in late 2016 to add the wines of Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Vermont and beyond to his beat. Lenn currently serves as the wine columnist for The Suffolk Times weekly newspaper and is the former editor of the Long Island Wine Gazette. He contributes or has contributed to publications like Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Beverage Media, Edible Brooklyn, Edible East End and Edible Hudson Valley. Lenn served on the board of directors for Drink Local Wine, and is the creator and founder of TasteCamp, an annual regional wine immersion conference for writers and trade. An admitted riesling and cabernet franc fanatic, he’s intensely passionate about eating local and the many local wine regions of America. Lenn lives in Miller Place, NY with his wife Nena, son Jackson, daughter Anna and their dog, Casey Lemieux Thompson.