From Castello di Borghese, comes this 2004 Cabernet Franc.  In all the years that I have live on Long Island since 1998, I have never visited this vineyard.  I can tell you that these vines are some of the oldest on Long Island.  Castello di Borghese was founded in 1999 after Marco and Ann Marie Borghese purchased Hargrave Vineyard, which was the first vineyard on Long Island 1973…when I wrote that, I was shocked…the year I was born, the first vines of Long Island were too.

Anyway back to the wine; on the nose I was getting some dark fruit, a little Blackberry and some plum.  There was this wonderful earthy tone that I was really enjoying.  There were some subtle green elements, like a little bell pepper and some fresh snapped string beans.  Then at the end, I was picking up this slightly sweet aroma of vanilla.  Really digging the bouquet on this wine.

As I tasted, I was picking up some blackberry and some raspberries, some vanilla was showing through, but no too much.  The tannins were soft and there was moderate amount of acidity that brought the wine full circle.

This was a smooth finish, that lasted for a while.  There were some woody tones, with some herbal elements.  There was a creamy well rounded finish, which made me keep taking sip after sip.

I would have to say that the vanilla aspect was the surprise.  I was not expecting it and maybe it should not be there.  This could be a case where a winemaker is trying to make Cabernet Franc into something it is not.  But by the end of the bottle, it worked.

If found this wine very enjoyable.  I had it with a grilled flank steak.  Went very well.  The next time I venture out east, I will have to stop in for a visit.