20/02/2016 – Vylyan Cabernet Franc 2011

(2016) Though often producing quite light and fruity wines in the Loire Valley in France, elsewhere, with hotter climates allowing extra ripeness, Cabernet Franc finds a rich and much more powerful expression, as in this wine from Villany in southwest Hungary. It's a melange of cocoa, deep and ripe mulberry and dusty Agen prune on the nose, with an excellent quality of oak and obvious ripeness. On the palate super-ripe cassis and juicy black plum depth of fruit is layered with a smokiness, a dry framework of tannin and well-balanced acidity. It has power and weight but a fine sense of alertness and freshness too. A terrific wine from this red wine hot spot in Hungary.