We have long admired the wonderful Cabernet Francs of the brilliant small Washington (and Texas!) producer Covington. But this 75-case-production, very special Reserve bottling, fermented in special Spanish clay tinages, takes their Cab Franc to another level. One that very few American Cabernet Francs – even those over $200 now – have ever reached.
As Covington explains:
Cabernet Franc is one of our Flagship varietals, and the Reserve Cabernet Franc is fermented in clay. Clay vessels give the wine a distinct, silky texture, aromas of cooking spices, and the benchmark herbs and black fruits. These vessels do not retain heat, so the wine ferments at a long, slow pace, building elegant tannins.
Vinous also rates it their best ever, saying:
The 2019 Cabernet Franc Green Label bursts from the glass with masses of crushed raspberries, rubbed sage and cracked chalk. This is texturally deep with masses of mineral-tinged red fruits and exotic spices swirling throughout. It finishes with a staining of dark red fruits complemented by cascading inner florals.
Simply put, one of the greatest (and surely rarest) American Cabernet Francs we’ve ever offered.
