There’s a lot to look forward to as the Napa Valley 2007 red wines continue to unfold their “true colors” to buyers, much to their tasting delight. Sure, there will be some duds, but the wines based on the red Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot) are really looking fantastic.
One way to get a hint of what the 2007 “good stuff” will be like is to sample one of the lesser known vintners who owns vineyard property in the same locale as the big brands. Tasting Titus Vineyards’ wines, located just north of St. Helena, CA, is the perfect way to do just that.
Titus Cabernet Franc truly is an easy-drinking full-bodied red with a complex bouquet containing most of the characteristics sought after in a top wine. These are often described as ripe cherries, currants, tobacco, cedar, chocolate, and the list goes on.
But because these wines change from year to year, you may want to compare the 2007 and 2008 Titus Cab Francs against each other. With the ’08 just coming out, there is not a lot on the tasting experience available, so if you can find it by the glass off someone’s wine list, that’s a good option.
Since it is a Cabernet Franc, the actual taste in the mouth is a little on the light side without deep structure (making it very smooth), but if you can imagine the addition of big tannins, licorice, and acid balance, you’ve got the Titus 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. If you like the Cabernet Franc, you might want to pick up their Cabernet Sauvignon at AZ Wines or Sportsmans.
2007 has a lot more to say, for sure!
Article by Tom Peiffer, Phoenix Wine Shopping Examiner at Examiner.com
View more of Tom’s articles on Examiner.com by visiting his writer’s page.
