I recently tried the McCall Cabernet Fran 2021 at the Cab Franc Forward event in New York City last month. I was dubious, because I have been a huge fan of their Pinot Noir for many years, However, this 2021 Cabernet Franc was among my favorites of the show.
Russ McCall was a grape grower who produced his own first vintage in 2007. They opened their tasting room in 2010. Famed Long Island Vineyardist Steve Mudd had planted the first vineyards at McCall, finding just the right Pinot Noir and Merlot clones for the site. Miguel Martin is the General Manager and Gilles Martin is the head winemaker.
Born at the gates of the Champagne region, Gilles Martin headed to the South of France in the Languedoc wine region to obtain an engineering degree in biology and food sciences as well as a prestigious Masters of Oenology from the University of Montpellier. His 1986 Master thesis on the technology of wine ultra-filtration won national acclaim and a first prize, awarded in person, by former France president Jacques Chirac. Gilles worked in Germany, Australia, Virginia, California, and the Rhone Valley, before settling on Long Island.
The McCall Reserve Cabernet Franc 2021 comes of McCall's North Ridge Vineyard, which has some of the oldest Cabernet Franc vines on Long Island. It was aged in neutral oak. This was a very fruit forward wine. The color was a lovely dark garnet color, with notes of cherries, red raspberry, Damson plum, and spice. There were also some floral notes. And a slight hint of cranberry on the palate. The flavors lingered a long, long time on the palate. An elegant, well balanced joy of a wine. Sophisticated and mature, but still full of youth. Absolutely superb.
Two fantastic, completely different Cabernet Francs from McCalls. Supberb!