CORTEN | Cabernet Franc | 2018
cabernet franc

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Today we are going to review a single varietal cabernet franc wine from the Valul lui Traian region  – Cabernet Franc 2018 by Corten. The ‘other cabernet‘ grape, cabernet franc is the parent grape for the two famous international varieties: cabernet sauvignon and merlot. It is less intense and softer than cabernet sauvignon and it ripens much earlier, and for this reason it is planted as an insurance grape against cabernet sauvignon failure to ripen properly, mostly in colder climates. It is also much more resistant to winter cold and frost than merlot, which makes it quite a commodity, especially in moderate climates. One thing that makes cabernet franc unique is that it can’t hide its nature – it has always been a bit more peppery, savory and leaner as compared to its pedigree children, due to the higher levels of pyrazines. This particular wine has been aged for 6 months in oak and is one of the few single varietal cabernet franc wines on the market. That said, without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
colour: pale garnet
clarity: hazy copper

//Olfactory
intensity: rich & clean
fruit profile: red fruits
__red fruits: sour cherry | red plum | red currant | cranberry | wolfberry
fruit character: ripe & dried

//Flavor
non fruit: vegetal | spice | oak | other
__vegetal: wormwood | red bell pepper
__spice: red pepper
__oak: cherry tree wood | sun-dried oakwood
__other: dried cranberry | dried sour cherry
__wood: old & new / light to medium roast

//Palate
sweetness: off dry
acidity: high
alcohol: medium
tannin: med(+)
__grip: fine
balance: fair
__dominant: acidity
body: lean | medium-

//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits
fruit character: ripe
non fruit: vegetal & spice
finish: med(+)
aftertaste: tart & seedy

//Scoring
CORTEN | Cabernet Franc | 2018
variety: cabernet franc
country: Moldova
region: Valul lui Traian
rating: 90.5

//Conclusion
maturity: youthful | still developing
verdict: good | recommended
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This is definitely a good wine of Moldova and, with a total of 90.5 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Verdict: this is a lean, round and supple cabernet franc wine with a nuanced fruity-vegetal profile and an tart finale. This wine is yet too youthful to be enjoyed today, as it has yet to reach the peak of its form, therefore we would suggest for at least 1 or 2 more years of bottle ageing. It tastes crisp, slightly seedy and very appealing, mostly due to its nuanced acidity, with fine-grained tannins and well integrated alcohol. This is a wine that lacks some structure and complexity, as in its current form it feels a bit too opulent and slightly wide. The most impressive part is on the nose, where the wine comes forward with overripe red fruits, followed by a vegetal background, with a layer of subtle oakiness in between. All in all, this is a very appealing wine, one that will do well when paired with naturally scented meats, like for example an extra rare filet mignon steak or, why not a cured meat board. Noroc!
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