SAUSKA | Cabernet Franc | Makár Villány | 2016
cabernet franc

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Today we are going to review a single-varietal cabernet franc wine from the famous Villány region in the south of Hungary – Cabernet Franc Makár Villány 2016 by Sauska. 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, while it is also much more resistant to winter cold and frost than merlot. One thing that makes cabernet franc unique is that it can’t hide its nature – it has always been a bit more peppery, more savory and leaner than its pedigree children, due to the higher levels of pyrazines inherited by the variety. This particular wine is made out of cabernet franc grapes from the Makár in Siklós vineyard, planted on calcareous and marl soils and has been aged for 18 months in oak barrels, from which 45% new oak. That said and 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: deep but not opaque garnet color
clarity: hazy copper shades on the rim of the glass

//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & earthy
fruit profile: red fruits | black fruits | dried fruits
__red fruits: red plum | cranberry
__black fruits: black cherry | blackberry
__dried fruits: dried cranberry | dried sour cherry | dried plum | dried black cherry
fruit character: overripe & dried

//Flavor
non fruit: herbs | spice | oak | earth | other
__herbs: dried leaves | thyme | rosemary
__spice: cloves | nutmeg | anise | red pepper
__oak: roasted oakwood | sun-dried oak | tobacco | rooibos
__earth: marl | loam | clay
__other: brown olive | hints of iron
primary layer: dried fruit & earth

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: high
tannin: medium+
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol
body: firm | medium+

//Taste
fruit profile: dried fruits & black fruits
fruit character: overripe & dried
non fruit: spice & earth
finish: long
aftertaste: seedy

//Scoring
SAUSKA | Cabernet Franc | Makár Villány | 2016
variety: cabernet franc
country: Hungary
region: Villány
rating: 93.6

//Conclusion
maturity: in its prime | drink now or within the next 2 years
verdict: great | a must try wine
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This is definitely a great wine of Hungary and, with a total of 93.6 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 quite seedy and firm cabernet franc wine that tastes crisp, rich and overripe – a wine that is right there, at the summit of its prime form, therefore we would suggest to drink it sooner rather than later, as we firmly believe that it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon than a day too late. In its current state it feels rustic, bold and complex, with an amazing structure on the mouthfeel and an appealingly-seedy finale. On the palate the wine bring mouth-watering acidity, ripe tannins and quite a touch of alcoholic warmth. On the nose the wine displays overripe and dried fruits and pronounced earthy notes in the foreground, supported by a very delicate, savory accent in the background and a layer of oak-derived spiciness in between. All in all, this is a textbook cabernet franc wine, with well preserved varietal characteristics and a terroir-driven, rustic delicacy. This is a wine that has both, a distinctive personality and the footprint of the Villány terroir. Egészségére!

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.