Sorry, The Wine Spies doesn't support Internet Explorer anymore. Please use a newer browser to continue browsing our wine collections.
What We Say 2005 Outbound Cabernet Franc
Top Secret Alert
This wine is a brand new release and is only available now through The Wine Spies. Be sure to stock up on one of Kaz Wineries most popular wines today, before we sell out!
Mission Codename: Real Agents Spaz for Kaz
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Taste 12 Cabernet Franc wines, select the Top 5 and present them here, one at a time for our Operatives to enjoy
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Kaz Winery
Wine Subject: 2005 Outbound Cabernet Franc
Winemaker: Kaz
Backgrounder:
Cabernet Franc is one of Agent Red’s favorite red varietals. Perhaps this is because its flavors are often rich, layered, complex and elegant. Or, perhaps he loves Cabernet Franc so much because it pairs so exceptionally with many different foods. One of the most notable things about Cabernet Franc is the fact that finding excellent examples can be very difficult. On a recent extended mission, Agent Red tasted an International selection of a dozen Cab Francs. He brought back 5 exceptional Cabernet Francs and they will be presented here, beginning today.
We are also very pleased to introduce Agent K, our first guest reviewer. Agent K is a ‘Learning Sommelier’, which means that she is in the long and arduous process of becoming a Certified Sommelier. She lends to our reviews by bringing her sophisticated palate and deep love of wine. We extend our special thanks to Agent O.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Ruby red to deeper red with rose and pick hues along the edges and a sparkling surface.
Smell – Intense cassis and tart cherries balanced with cedar wood. This wine is also very aromatic with subtle floral and tomato vine aromas.
Feel – Simultaneously wet and cool, this wine coats the entire mouth with a full-bodied with medium tannins and solid structure.
Taste – Big (but not brash), concentrated, balanced, elegant and deeply layered flavors of tart cherries, raspberries, cedar and white pepper with a walnut flavor that sneaks in at the end.
Finish – Long and lasting with flavors that taper gently.
Conclusion – My conclusion on this wine is simple: Of all of the Cabernet Franc we tasted during our recent Cab Franc ‘Taste-Off’, this is the one of the best. It is reminiscent of many of the Cabernet Francs we have tasted from the Loire Valley. It also is on the border with many of its qualities that it will remind you of Cabernet Sauvignon while remaining distinctly different. It has a richness and intensity that pleases on first sip, but it also has an elegance that is certain to make your mouth very happy as you keep on sipping… that is, until you run out.
Agent O, Sommelier, Tasting Notes:
“Rich complex nose of rose petals and cassis. Concentrated plum and black cherry on the palate, finished with a slight vanilla. Well balanced texture.”
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Kaz Winery can be seen in this satellite photo
Wine Spies Technical Analysis:
Varietals: 100% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol: 13.6%
Barrels made: 8
Grapes from: Nelson Estate Vineyards
Label by: Ryan Kaz ~ Son of Kaz
What the Winery Says
Kaz Winery
TOP SECRET ALERT:
If you are here for the 2005 LaZarre Pinot Noir, please be sure to visit us tomorrow – it goes on sale at midnight tonight.
Check out The Wine Spies on Wine Library TV
About This Wine:
Ya just gotta love Bordeaux blending grapes like good ol’ Franc. They possess something familiar yet diverge from the ordinary (Cab Sauvignon or Merlot) in such magnificent ways. Here we have a delightful nose with robust cedar and earth layered over a spiced walnut. Hints of black pepper meld with the easy tannins.
Our biggest lot yet! 8 whole barrels. Compared to most wineries that is still a laugh, but to us it’s serious business. Being that Cab Franc is loved by the Kaz family we decided that we should have enough of it so that we to could enjoy it ourselves. So often our favorites are gone in a flash. Perhaps Outbound might find its way to our personal cellars… to bad it’s so DAMN GOOD! It won’t stay on the shelves as long as we had hoped. It’s decadent nose and full body are just too good to be true. Why, oh why, did it have to have such a perfect oak flavor? Why didn’t we make more?
Pairing Suggestions:
Best served with your favorite meal. Perhaps it’s best to advise having it where a Cabernet Sauvignon might usually appear.
The Vineyard and Vintage:
The grapes for the Outbound Cabernet France came from the Nelson Estate Vineyard in Bennet Valley, Santa Rosa. The Nelson Estate only grows Cab Franc. This is second year doing the Cab Franc from there vineyard. We have some Cab Franc at the Kaz Winery but blend it with other wines. This 2005 vintage of Cab Franc is more Cab Sauv than ever. The growing year was dry at hot all the way to harvest. You are the new release of this wine. We will only sell this wine after you release it on your 24 hours on The Wine Spies. You might want to play up on that. The 2004 was also our tasrting rooms best seller for the 2007.
Kaz… the Winemaker
Who is Kaz?
Richard Kasmier, “Kaz”, has been making wine since 1985. Winemaking was little more than a hobby for a decade before he became bonded as a winery in 1994. The transition from a professional commercial photographer to a winemaker was natural for Kaz. His graphic and marketing sense was perfect for making his labels pop and his word spread. The Kaz way of making wine would earn him recognition, acclaim and admiration as his organic wines scored well with sippers.
Philosophy
Kaz takes great pleasure in doing things his way. His philosophy is “Do it how you like it”. Kaz makes wines from varietals that he admires like Mourvedre, Carignane, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Barbera, Alicante Bouschet and many more. He likes BIG RED WINES with loads of complexity and finding a good balance or a fun extremes by blending varietals. Kaz makes wines organically because he respects the Earth and those who drink his wine. He will make wines in a style all of his own or borrow from old world methods when he simply wishes to. He loves to push boundaries and open new doors. Thus, Kaz’s motto is “There’s No Harm in Experimenting”.
Character… He is one!
Perhaps the most infamous and loved ingredient in the whole of the Kaz Vineyard and Winery experience is Kaz’s personality. He’s a funny guy with nutty humor, a vivid imagination and a loose ego. A member of Kaz’s family is almost always by his side. His tight family shows his warmth by their evolvement. His wife of thirty years, Sandi is the definition of warm. She is always the voice of reason that adds calm to Kaz’s frantic energy. Their son, Ryan, considers Kaz his hero and best friend. Ryan loves pouring at the tasting room for dad and using his computer skills to make his father look as crazy as he is. Daughter, Kristin, is the organization queen at Kaz… Someone has to crack the whip! You see Kaz’s personality in his wine labels, marketing and smeared around the winery/tasting room. Luckily, what you see is what you get,
a true original.
