Thirsty Thursday: 2007 Robert Keenan Cabernet Franc
Carrying over from our holiday higher end wine recommendations, Thirsty Thursday delivers another very special wine for the Glutton family: Robert Keenan’s 2007 Cabernet Franc.
Since my days in the wine business, I’ve been a supporter of/indulger in Keenan wines. Located in the sleepy Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley (just west of St. Helena), the Keenan winery has a limited but across the board impressive portfolio that consistently scores high marks from those in the industry.
The first wine from Keenan that I connected with was their 2001 25th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that became the focus a social gathering at my home to experience a unique instance of bottle variation (the subtle differences in character of a particular vintage of wine because of aging in the bottle). It was a thoroughly enjoyable gluttonous affair where allegedly nearly a case of the priceless cab was consumed under the auspices of educational research.
While the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon will always remain a special wine, it took a visit to the Keenan winery to introduce me to the second love of my life: the Keenan Cabernet Franc.
A limited production wine, the Cab Franc is arguably the best valued wine year in and year out in the winery’s portfolio. It combines the wonderful nuances of the Cab Franc varietal with the ripeness and depth of fruit character that is obtained from vineyards located in the Spring Mountain District. And in this humble glutton’s opinion the wine consistently epitomizes the greatness that Old World varietals can obtain when grown in under the right circumstances in California. In sporting terms, the Keenan Cab Franc is a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Here’s my complete review of the 2007 vintage:
2007 Robert Keenan Cabernet Franc (Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley)
Dark rich plum in color, nearly opaque, the wine opens with a delightful melody of oak, earthy forest, fruit, and a tinge of vanilla on the nose. Medium-to-full bodied this Cab Franc displays diverse and developed ripe fruit notes along with a subtle amount of cassis that cascades evenly across the palate with developed tannins and well integrated alcohol. A Cab Franc lovers dream wine.
Retails around $55-60 and was given a 94 Point Rating by Robert Parker
The production and distribution of Keenan’s Cab Franc is limited, but the wine can often found available for purchase directly from the winery (click here for contact information).
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This sounds really good, Jed. You wouldn’t happen to have a few bottles in that wine cellar would you? Speaking of which, any leads yet on the thieves?
I actually do have an extra bottle lounging around the house, but it is reserved for a future gluttonous affair. As for those thieves….I’ve been told by Uncle Jimmy that they have “disappeared.”
I heard that some fella and a little bird were seen making a fast getaway from your cellar door when you were away! Sadly though there was no Cab Franc to be found at the time! This sounds great! c
Ix-nay with the ird-bay!
Holy, Jed, these are serious wines. We were at a Spanish wine tasting a million years ago and we had some lovely Rioja’s to taste; there was a gentleman also tasting, and near the end of the ‘class’ he brings out a bottle of wine from his personal reserve that was very expensive ($200, I believe) and because he had no one at home to share it with, he brought it to share with the people at the tasting. I have no idea what that wine was, but I will never forget the generosity of a complete stranger!
To me, sharing great wine is like sharing great food…it can only enrichen us all.
As a lover of Rioja’s I’m extremely jealous of your experience.
I am paying the love forward to you today – have a squizz here: http://thecompletecookbook.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/gratitude-x-6/
Mandy
We love wines around here, so it’s great to see reviews (yes, I’m still a newbie to your site).
Thanks Courtney. I’m working on putting together a few wine series for later this year, so keep an eye out on Thursdays for those.
when my tax returns come in, i’ll have to check and see if i can find a bottle.
It will be well worth it.
I’m with Courtney–huge wine fan over here, this sounds fabulous. Wanna ship some samples this way??
Happy weekend!
Samples?? They’re at Bevmo ready for pick up.
This does sound great, especially since you have found not one but two favorites out of the Keenan winery! I will have to note to pick up a bottle for the next gathering, great review!. Enjoy the weekend
Thanks Tina and same to you!
I’ve heard there are great wines in the Napa Valley. I haven’t heard of Keenan wines though but this does sound like it would be a very good drop. I wonder if it’s exported here.
There are a plethora of great wines in Napa, many are over priced, but not Keenan (in my opinion). Unfortunately I’m unsure about what they export.
I wonder if Keenan wines are available around here? I’ll keep this one in mind for a special occasion
Hope you find some Liz…their wines are a most deserving treat.
Hey SG! Haven’t been here in a while so I figured to stop by. Lucky for me, just in time for your usual alcohol post. Not really into wine, but what the heck, I would probably try it no matter what.
Hey Christian, I guarantee that you wouldn’t have any complaints about this wine. Cheers!
Its nice to learn new things. is the napa valley in the us?
Yup. Located in California, north of San Francisco.
It is always enjoyable reading your wine reviews. The high end wines are difficult to find in New Hampshire but are sometimes found on wine lists at restaurants in Boston. Keenan will be on my list.
Thanks Karen and I believe that Keenan might be available in NH. I’m not sure where you live in NH, but I’ve worked with La Cave a Vin in Exeter before for wine events and if it’s available they can get it for you. http://lacaveavin.net/
Thanks Jed. We live less than ten miles away. My husband is on their web site right now. I really appreciate the tip.
My pleasure! If you do end up going by there ask for Laura. She is my contact and is super friendly.