While at the Cab Franc Forward in New York City, I got the opportunity to taste several wines from Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. Located in the Hudson Valley, Millbrook for many years has been considered one of the most important of New York's quality wine producers. And I am a big fan of winemaker Ian Bearup.
According to the website, "Ian Bearup was born in Northern California but was raised in Upstate NY. After attending Elon University in North Carolina, Ian moved back to Northern California with the notion to get involved with the wine and grape industry. His first harvest was in 2007 at St. Francis Winery in Santa Rosa, California. He then followed that with a year in Anderson Valley at Husch Vineyard working in the winery and the vineyard. In 2009, Ian to New Zealand to work a harvest season there. A move to Oregon after that stint, found him working for a year in a couple different wineries in the Willamette Valley. He then moved to the Russian River/Sonoma Coast in 2010 and worked a harvest at Balletto as the Enologist. He was then hired full-time there and over the years became the Associate Winemaker working primarily with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In spring of 2021, Ian and his family moved across the country and Ian started as the Winemaker at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery." They also have a large yellow lab named Beau, that makes friends with all the winery's guests.
The 2021 Millbrook Proprietor's Special Reserve Cabernet Franc is a deep plum-colored wine. The nose is cherry and plum and bramble fruit with notes of savory spices and white pepper. The palate was a combination of ripe cherries, cassis, bramble fruit and black raspberries. The palate is fruit forward with a smooth finish. Notes of spice are followed by white pepper and long, lingering fruit. A very accessible wine, with balance, complexity and structure. This is an excellent wine, that really was among my favorites at the tasting.
This wine begs for roasted meats, roasted vegetables, pasta dishes or cheese. It's a mouth-watering wine with incredible lasting power and finesse. Ian Bearup has made an excellent wine that confirms Millbrook's place among the better producers in the state.