Cabernet Franc from Total Wine & A Virginia Winery
🍇 CABERNET FRANC — GLOBAL BLIND TASTING
Tasted by: Lynn • Scott • Pam • Jeff
Wines From: France • Argentina • Chile • Virginia
🌱 About the Varietal — Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the foundational grapes of the wine world — the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère. Known for its bright red-fruit character, floral aromatics, herbal nuances, and signature pepperiness, Cab Franc brings:
🍒 Common Aromas & Flavors
Raspberry, strawberry, cherry
Violets, rose petals 🌹
Red pepper, green pepper 🌶️
Subtle smoke, graphite, herbs
Medium tannins & dry finish
🌍 Regional Expressions
Loire Valley, France: Light, floral, herbal, elegant red fruits
Argentina: Riper fruit, fuller body, smoky richness
Chile: Earthy, herbal, rustic, firmer tannins
Virginia: Floral, balanced red berries, soft tannins, elegant texture
This tasting showcased how differently Cabernet Franc expresses itself around the world — and which regions impressed the group the most.
🍷 WINE A (1)
Reserve des Vignerons Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc — 2022
📍 Loire Valley, France
💲 Price: $17.99
🏬 Purchased at: Total Wine
👃 Aroma
Elegant and light: cherry, strawberry, roses, mild fruit, refreshing profile.
👅 Taste
Peppery spice on entry, dry finish, light tannins, clean and pleasant structure.
⭐ Individual Scores & Buy-Again Choices
Scott: 13 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a party
Lynn: 15 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a party
Pam: 15 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a neighborhood party
Jeff: 13 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a friend’s party
🔢 Total Score (4 Tasters): 56
📝 Summary Notes
A fresh, floral French Cab Franc with peppery brightness and an easy finish — an enjoyable, lighter Old-World style.
🍷 WINE B (2)
Arraigo Benegas Cabernet Franc — 2022
📍 Mendoza, Argentina
💲 Price: $19.99
🏬 Purchased at: Total Wine
👃 Aroma
Immediate intensity — berries leap from the glass. Rich and bold with smoky edges.
👅 Taste
Smooth, well-balanced, raspberry-cherry fruit, soft tannins, richer than Wine A but still elegant.
⭐ Individual Scores & Buy-Again Choices
Scott: 15 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a party
Lynn: 17 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a party
Pam: 16 — ✔️ Buy again, share with friends
Jeff: 16 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a friend’s party
🔢 Total Score (4 Tasters): 64
📝 Summary Notes
A bold, fruit-forward South American expression with smoky richness and standout aroma.
🍷 WINE C (3)
Carmen Grand Reserva — 2023
📍 Central Valley, Chile
💲 Price: $18.99
🏬 Purchased at: Total Wine
👃 Aroma
Distinct, slightly earthy, with “rubber” or service-station character — the least aromatic and least pleasant of the group.
👅 Taste
Mild flavor profile, short finish, understated structure; described as “nondescript” and “missing categories.”
⭐ Individual Scores & Buy-Again Choices
Scott: 11 — ✔️ Buy again, drink at home only
Lynn: 10 — ✔️ Buy again, but only bring to a casual party
Pam: 10 — ✔️ Would drink after already having a bottle
Jeff: 11 — ✔️ Would bring to a friend’s party (not best friend’s)
🔢 Total Score (4 Tasters): 42
📝 Summary Notes
Rustic and simple, with minimal flavor impact; best for casual, low-expectation drinking.
🍷 WINE D (4)
Barns of Hamilton Cabernet Franc — 2023
📍 Hamilton, Virginia
💲 Price: $34
🏬 Purchased at: Barns of Hamilton Winery
👃 Aroma
Deeply floral — “like putting your head in a bouquet of roses.”
Layers of blackberry, raspberry, and plum.
👅 Taste
Silky, refined, lightly peppery, beautifully balanced, Pinot-like grace.
Long, elegant finish with polished tannins and perfect palate coating.
⭐ Individual Scores & Buy-Again Choices
Scott: 16 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a party
Lynn: 17 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a party or use for special occasions
Pam: 17 — ✔️ Buy again, save for special occasions
Jeff: 19 — ✔️ Buy again, bring to a friend’s party
🔢 Total Score (4 Tasters): 69
🏆 Highest score of all wines
📝 Summary Notes
Elegant, complex, floral, balanced, and long-finishing — a sophisticated and beautifully crafted Virginia Cab Franc.
🏆 FINAL RANKING — GRAND TOTALS
RankWineTotal Score1st 🥇Wine 4 — Barns of Hamilton (Virginia)692nd 🥈Wine 2 — Riego Benegas (Argentina)643rd 🥉Wine 1 — Loire Valley (France)564thWine 3 — Carmen (Chile)42
✨ Why the Barns of Hamilton Cabernet Franc — 2023, Wine 4 Won the Tasting
Most floral and expressive aroma
Smoothest, most refined texture
Longest and most enjoyable finish
Beautiful berry layers without heaviness
Universally praised by all four tasters
The only wine some tasters would reserve for special occasions
Virginia shined — outperforming global competitors and proving why its Cabernet Franc continues to rise in reputation.
