Amanda Barnes, Vincenzo Arnese and Ben Gubbins tasted 149 wines, with 5 Outstanding and 61 Highly recommended.
American Cabernet Franc: Panel tasting scores
149 wines tasted
Exceptional 0
Outstanding 5
Highly recommended 61
Recommended 69
Commended 8
Fair 6
Poor 0
Entry criteria: Producers and UK agents were invited to submit their latest-release dry, still red wines made from a minimum of 75% Cabernet Franc grapes.
Cabernet Franc is undoubtedly a rising star of the Americas. Although still niche, it has been steadily rising in the ranks and playing a greater role in each of the major wine countries. Its leafy, peppery, fresh, fragrant style can offer the ideal counterpart to the richer styles of heavyweight champion varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tannat and Merlot.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores from the American Cabernet Franc panel tasting
{"content":"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"}
American Cabernet Franc: Panel tasting scores
{}
{"wineId":"73540","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73541","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73542","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73543","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73544","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73545","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73546","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73547","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73548","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73552","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73549","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73550","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73551","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73553","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73554","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73555","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73556","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73557","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"72953","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73558","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73559","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73563","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73564","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73565","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73567","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73570","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73571","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73572","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73573","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73574","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73560","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73562","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73566","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73568","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73569","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"73561","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
The judges
Amanda Barnes is a writer and presenter specialising in South American travel and wine. A DWWA judge, she is author of the award-winning South America Wine Guide (£35 southamericawineguide.com)
Vincenzo Arnese is the director of wine at Raffles London at the OWO. Born in Naples, he specialised in sommellerie at hospitality school, then worked at top hotels in Italy, Switzerland, and Australia, as well as Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Ben Gubbins is general manager and WSET wine educator at Vagabond Wines in London. A native of Chile, he previously worked as UK & Europe sales director for Dos Andes Wines before joining Vagabond in 2013
Related articles
