Light and electric purple in color, I get lovely aromas of red berries and plum in the glass. This wine is from the Western Connecticut Highlands AVA. Yes, that’s correct, Connecticut!
I was a little anxious leading up to the tasting – I’m from the great state of Connecticut, the Constitution State – and I don’t believe I’ve ever had a Connecticut-produced wine.
First sip. Yes, this has the classic characteristics of Cabernet Franc and perhaps the Loire region of France. Relief! There’s a nice herbaceous quality, maybe a little green pepper on the finish, and shall I say, some Connecticut rustic “garrigue”, which reminds me of playing baseball in the fields surrounding West Haven where I grew up.
Now, what to pair this Cab Franc with for dinner? At only 12% alcohol, this wine is not only sippable but food worthy. We decided to grill a pork tenderloin (marinated with EVOO, S&P, and herbs de Provence), complemented with a French lentil salad, and an arugula salad with strawberries, feta cheese, and basil vinaigrette.
This is an excellent wine and worth seeking out. In fact, the next time I’m in the New Haven area, I’m taking my buddies (you know who you are) to Jones Winery to share my enthusiasm.
Congrats to winemaker Joe on this wine, and for contacting me to put himself in Connecticut wines out there. Read Joe’s interview here.