N°17 Cabernet Franc Reviews

Aromas of crushed herbs, black tea and blackberries. Medium-to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Lovely depth and complexity here, with a bed of black fruit, earthy spice and forest herbs. Cigar box and bark come through. Best after 2024.

The 2015 Cabernet Franc No 17 is a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet colored, it pops with a fantastically perfumed nose of kirsch, rose oil, black raspberries, and wild blueberries, followed by hints of fallen leaves and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft, graceful, and elegant, featuring beautiful freshness and very fine-grained tannins, leading to a long and perfumed finish on this gorgeous wine.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Cabernet Franc No 17 struts out of the glass with gregarious scents of black and red cherries, boysenberries, and wild blueberries with hints of iris, fallen leaves, and fragrant earth and a waft of jasmine tea. The medium to full-bodied palate is firm, very fine-grained, and refreshing, with a lively backbone and long, minerally finish.

Aromas of crushed herbs, black tea and blackberries. Medium-to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Lovely depth and complexity here, with a bed of black fruit, earthy spice and forest herbs. Cigar box and bark come through. Best after 2024.

The 2019 Cabernet Franc JCB #17 is all varietal and comes from a single vineyard in St. Helena. It spent 19 months in 40% new French oak. This pretty, medium to full-bodied, super elegant red offers lots of spicy, cedary, savory nuances as well as ample ripe darker cherry and berry fruits, supple tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 15 years or more.

The 2019 JCB #17, 100% Cabernet Franc, emerges from a site on the eastern side of St. Helena. This racy, exuberant Franc delivers good varietal character and tons of personality. The 2019 is opulent, but also an incredibly elegant wine that might benefit from being opened just a bit earlier. There is real potential here.