So it was fun to run into him in early February at the Cab Franc Forward event in New York City this year, and taste two of his newest releases. Both were excellent. One, The minimalist - was among my favorites of the show.
Paumonok Vineyards Minimalist Cabernet Franc 2024 was a revelation. One of my highest rated wines of the show. 100% Cabernet Franc. It is part of their "minimalist" approach to winemaking, often using methods like délestage (rack and return) to achieve a smooth, velvet-like texture, The wine is made using native fermentation on the skins. The wine is mean to express the fruit grown on the island, and does not allow for a wide swatch of winemaking trade techniques to alter its flavor or consistency. Harvest by hand, gets little in the way of help with little to no sulfites or other treaments. It s aged i aok, yes, but in neutral oak, so as not to impart any flavor. The wine settles there for about a year, rounding itself out.
The result is a wine that is fruit forward, elegant and sophisticated. Big notes of cherry, red raspberry, hints of bramble, some floral notes, with herbs and spices to boot. There's a note of blue slate? Lovely tannins, of black tea, but not agressive - softer, offering structure, but not more. Complex and well balanced, this wine would be a winner in any region around the world. Exceptional. Exquisite.
Paumanok Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2023 is made from 87% Cabernet Franc and 13% Merlot. This is a slightly deepr kind of Cabernet Franc, with the Merlot contributing color and structure. Notes of dark cherry, dark raspberry, cassis, an bramble, and cranberry, this wine has terrific fruit up front. But there is more to this wine - notes of tobacco, cocoa, some interesting minerality, and a nice touch of spice, a pronounced black pepper pop, and long lasting fruit. This is an outstanding wine, with hints of the old world. It begs for a big Riedel Vinum-styled tasting glass, and white table cloth service. Perfect for roasted meats, zesty pasta dishes, and grilled vegetables. With terrific balance, and good, grippy structure, this wine delivers. An excellent, deeper styled Cabernet Franc.
Kareem Massoud is producing consistently elegant and sophisticated wines. Two terrific wines here, and one word - WOW!