La Frenz Winery 2007 Grand Total Reserve - 92-93pts

La Frenz Winery 2007 Grand Total Reserve (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2010

Tasting Notes: The 2007 offering of the La Frenz's big gun is made up of a whopping 52% Cabernet Franc with the four other Bordeaux varietals (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot) filling out the blend. The result is a wine that ultimately doesn't stray far from the house style for their big red, robust-meets-restrain, but does offer more aromatic, perfume-y notes on the nose and a touch of twang on the palate. La Frenz should sell tickets to their yearly blending summit for this wine - it must be a fun exercise.

The 2007 Reserve delivers an intense and powerful nose of dark fruits and toasted oak with a vein of sweetness emanating from the concentrated fruit aromas. The palate is concentrated as well, but the layers of flavours don't bombard your senses, they melt slowly in your mouth like a bar of chocolate in the microwave.

Year-in-year-out this is one of the top Meritage blends in the Province and remains fairly unheralded. Drinking beautifully now, but the fine, ripe tannins and good acidity will allow this wine to age comfortably for some time. Drink 2010-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

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