Cab is gonzo, next up – THE FRANC, ready, set, GO.

A wise man once said all good things must come to an end…

And so does Bordigioni’s Annadel Estate.

Fear not, THE DEAN is just fine. In fact, he’s more than fine, living the dream in Hawaii, sailing into many a sunset with his family. It’s good to be Dean Bordigioni these days. It always has been so.

Just last month when we blew through the last of his Zin, we wrote: “this is a perennial favorite around here, but sadly with Dean moving on from the wine business, there’s a limited runway.”

Alas, we reach the end of that runway today. Just before Dean flew one way to Kona, we had begged for the keys to his antique motorcycle collection. Instead, he gave us all his remaining inventory! Not a bad consolation prize. Hundreds of bottles of glorious juice, that he asked we drink, and share with YOU.

So here we go, first Cab, then Franc, then Merlot. These extraordinary 2016s are his very last wines at prices that will make you blush, as if you are doing something wrong, and we will roll onto the next one as they sell out.

And how do we know they will sell out? They always have. This is the way. The Bordigionian way.

The opposite of WHIMPY, these are for true hedonists and thrill-seekers out there. Or anyone who likes hard-charging, full-throttle, drop-a-gear, and push-it-to-the-limit type reds. He always brought this hard-charging, life-in-the-fast-lane take to winemaking, and that’s on full display here.

Freshly picked perfume of blackberry, cocoa powder, espresso, and a bazaar of sweet spices. Dense and voluptuous on the palate, with lathery, harmonious tannins contributing to the massive mouthfeel. The finish builds up with substantial oomph, pronounced spiciness, and impressive persistence. This may be our favorite, by a thin margin. Damn, we love a good Franc around here.

Don’t fret when this is gone either: mmm-merlot next!