You don’t see a lot of varietal cabernet franc wines in Australia, and I can’t help thinking there’s an opportunity there for a cooler climate region.  There’s also practically no competition on Australian retail shelves from the Loire Valley red cabernet franc appellations, regions which I favour.  All the same, you perhaps risk me being your only customer.

Longview Creek, a small estate in Sunbury to the west of Melbourne, have produced a good cabernet franc here in 2010.

Ruby in colour, the wine is clean, with aromatics of wood spice, cherry, clove, and some eucalyptus and herby notes with time in the glass.  Minutes, not hours, that is.  Pinot noir also came to mind.  On the palate, it is a dry medium bodied red with expressions of blueberry, cherry, wood and plum.  Though I would have liked to see the wood dialled back a little, this is a good wine due to its balance, with some complexity of character with spices, red fruits and an earthiness with time that is true to the cabernet franc grape.  Drink now.  Good

Abv: 12.5%
Price: $25
Vendors: Check http://www.wine-searcher.com/
Website: http://www.longviewcreek.com.au
Tasted: 2013
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