Drink This: Suhru Wines 2021 Cabernet Franc
Toasty at the edges, this North Fork cab franc features ripe red fruits and subtle savory elements
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The 2019 vintage of this wine was one of my favorite cabernet franc-based wines of 2023 – so I cracked open (yes, it’s closed with a screw cap) with high hopes. The Suhru Wines 2021 Cabernet Franc ($30*) isn’t quite up to the same level as the 2019, it is still a fine example of North Fork cabernet franc.
The 2021 features the same ripe red fruits — strawberry and raspberry — with subtle layers of vanilla, cocoa powder, and dried herbs. But there is also a distinct toasty oak aroma here that is a bit less integrated.
That same oak influence brings a bit of earthy cola spice to a medium-bodied palate that shows well-concentrated red raspberry, strawberry, and red cherry fruit flavors. Savory herbs lay beneath that fruit. The tannins are youthful and drying, but should soften over time. That cola note is most noticeable on the long finish.
Suhru Wines 2021 Cabernet Franc
Region: North Fork of Long Island AVA (New York)
ABV: 13.3%
Production: 191 cases
Winemaking: Aged 15 months in Hungarian oak barrels
Rating: 90 pts
Price: $30 (Available Here)
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*sample submitted by winery