Today I am tasting the 2007 Cabernet Franc “The Tower Series” by Horton Vineyards from Orange County, Virginia. I have sent the vineyard a request for more information about the percentage of grape varietals used in this wine. Horton is a very intriguing vineyard due to their use of many different varietals. It is definitely a place I want to explore more. I found this bottle for under $11. I heard about this vineyard from Charlie Adler (@idrinkonthejob) of www.idrinkonthejob.com. It comes in a gorgeous package with a plastic cork (nice).
Color
It is somewhat thin in the glass with a good ruby red color.
Aroma
What an interesting nose. The oak is definitely playing a strong part. However, there is also some good blackberry and mint. I really like it.
Flavor
The attack has some good fruit. There is cherry and red currant. One thing I like right off the bat is that it isn’t too sweet. It tastes like real wine instead of a sugary substitute. On the mid-palate there is more cherry and some strawberry. The finish shows a little vanilla and the cherry lingers for a decent length. There is also a smokiness on the end. There are not any strong tannins, so it is drinkable now. My only complaint is that the oak is too much throughout. It covers up the taste of the wine and I don’t think it is adding the velvety smoothness that some wines achieve with it. But if you like oak, it will not impede the enjoyment of this wine. It will pair well with beef, pork and tomato sauced pasta.
Rating
I like this wine and think it is a decent value. I really wish they had used less oak treatment. It would have matched my palate even closer. I rate it 88 points. I am definitely looking forward to trying some of Horton’s other offerings. Have you had any? If so, what do you recommend?
Update: Neil Glaser of Horton Vineyards responded to my request and let me know that this is a blend of 86% Cabernet Franc and 14% Tannat. It was aged for 18 months in oak barrels.
Glad to see Horton featured here as they are one of my favorite VA vineyards! Their 2007 Viognier is a great white, if you’re in the mood for something on the sweet side. It’s my go-to “local gift” when visiting friends out of town.
FWIW, there’s no difference between their Tower Series wines and the corresponding “regular” wines. The Tower Series is a just a special bottling (and usually, a slightly lower price) that Horton does for Total Wine shops.
At Horton, I dig their Cab Franc (for the low price, you’d be hard-pressed to find one better), Viognier (for which Horton are best known), and Rkatsiteli (my favorite of their annual offerings). They recently put out an Rkats Reserve that was even better than the regular. They also do a nice Late Harvest Viognier, a Pear Port, and a decent Vintage Port. Horton’s portfolio is huge and varied, so they pretty much something for everyone.
Thanks Lindsey,
Horton’s Viognier is next on my list of their wines that I want to try.
Ron,
Thanks for the great information! I’ve heard good things about the Viognier and now will be on the lookout for that Rkatsteli. One of the things that really impresses me about Horton is that they have so many varietals and are working to discover the best grapes for their Virgina terroir.
very nice!