Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/723381
september 2016 / the tasting panel / 87 ADELAIDA Cellars 2013 Viking Vineyard Cabernet Franc. Located in the sub-AVA of the same name, ADELAIDA has a 30-year history of working with Bordeaux varieties, defi- nitely making them one of the old-timers in Paso Robles. The Viking Vineyard, located at 1,500 feet, features the calcareous soils that Paso Robles is known for, and the wine's 15% alcohol was surprisingly less evident than its rich, concentrated dark-fruit character. Brecon Estate is also located in the Adelaida sub AVA, and their vineyards include some of the original Bordeaux varietal plantings in Paso Robles. Welshman winemaker Damian Grindley's Brecon Estate 2013 Cabernet Franc was one of the highlights of the tasting, and his wine found that perfect balance of ripeness and structure, a sure sign that this wine will age gracefully. San Antonio winery was founded in 1917 in Los Angeles but Riboli Family Wine Estates has a much more recent footprint—and brand new winery—in Paso Robles. They have purchased land in the El Pomar sub-appellation and their San Simeon 2012 Estate Reserve Cabernet Franc explored more of the dark-cherry-fruit and balanced-tannins side of Cabernet Franc. The last two wines of the tasting were from Chateau Margene. Lifelong Central Coast residents Michael Mooney and his wife, Margene, founded their winery in 1997. Located in the Creston sub AVA of Paso Robles, only a small portion of their six-acre vineyard is devoted to Cabernet Franc. Mike showed two wines, the Chateau Margene 2013 Cabernet Franc and the Chateau Margene 2012 Cask 7 Cabernet Franc. Blended with 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the first wine demonstrated that Cabernet Franc appreciates the help of its fellow Bordeaux varieties, which gives the blend deeper, dark- fruit flavors and even more structure for aging. On the other hand, the Cask 7 Cabernet Franc is 100% Cab Franc and held its own next to the 2013 blend, displaying rich, ripe fruit and great concentration of flavor. Paso Robles has recently been broken down into eleven official sub-appellations, which would seem to provide ample motivation for producers to explore and identify the unique terroir of their sub-AVA. However, it's a focus on specific varieties such as Cabernet Franc that has captured the attention of many high-quality producers, and in this case, the best supporting actor in the wine business handled the lead role quite impressively. Franc discussion. Panelists from the Paso Robles CAB Collective Seminar (left to right): Jeremy Weintraub of ADELAIDA Cellars; Damian Grindley of Brecon Estate; Panel Moderator Bob Bath, MS; Anthony Riboli of San Antonio Winery; and Michael Mooney of Chateau Margene.