So I dug into the Lang & Reed Cabernet Franck Franc de Pied 2010 @ $29
https://www.benchmarkwine.com/products/151425-lang-reed-cabernet-franc-franc-de-pied-2010
Weblink 1
Wine Enthusiast received the base cabernet franc (not the Franc de Pied) in 2012 giving it 85pts, noting 14.6% alc (oddly higher than the 14.1% in the spec sheet). CT rated it a few points higher (88)
Weblink 2
A great description of the base 2010 Cabernet Franc is found here (not the Franc de Pied). The base references a blend, including grapes from the Chapareral Vineyard planted in the 70s on Clear Lake âhigh upâ on their own rootstock, a âtrue Franc de Piedâ providing âdeep structure and lovely fruit tanninâ. The base wine was âonlyâ in French Oak for 8 months too, so itâs not a Napa bomb. The wine was bottled in 2011. The wine spec sheet notes 14.1% alc
Weblink
This lovely article says the 2010 âFranc de Piedâ was a library release released in 2020. Back in 2010-11, two barrels of this wine (which we know had more structure) was held back to produce this vintage. This is the only vintage of the vine because the vineyard eventually succumbed to phylloxera.
Weblink
Wine Enthusiast reviewed the 2010 Franc de Pied in April 2021, noting 14.5% alc and $125 MSRP. This tightly woven wine is on the way to maturity but still holding its abundant black-cherry, black-pepper and olive flavors firmly in masses of fine-grained tannins. Light toasted oak and mint aromas segue into the savory, deep fruit flavors and linger on the finish. Itâs a library release made from ungrafted, high-elevation vines. Best from 2024. â Jim Gordon
Weblink
This article notes the 2010 Franc de Pied was a special bottling alongside the 2010 Bois Sauvage - with the 2010 Franc de Pied released especially on âNational Cabernet Franc Dayâ.
Weblink
Looking at Cellar Tracker, we can see the base Cabernet Franc not doing particularly awesome at 88pts and the last note in 2017. The Bois Sauvage, which was a special bottling alongside the Franc de Pied - has one note from 2022 giving it 95 points from someone who paid $125, and this taster who has only given a higher score twice across 230 tasting notes. Intriguing, there is only one CT note on the Franc de Pied, from a âWiley Coyoteâ who has exactly 1 tasting note in his entire profile since joining CT in 2020⌠a poster who was active on CT yesterday (so it wasnât a dummy account?)⌠who posted on this wine âk, so Iâm not a big Cabernet Franc guy, but this is one of the single best wines, not just cab franc, I have ever tasted.â
Weblink
The winery offers a tasting of its âMonograph Collectionâ for $125 a head, and the Franc de Pied was the 2nd release on that collection (although it is not offered at the winery tasting).
So my conclusionâŚthis seems like a great pick up for $29!
Pre-phylloxera cabernet franc only released a couple years ago with 10 years age on it from the winery. It was the only year the wine was made, and the wine could not be made again as the vines died (some nice history here). WE tasted the wine in 2021 and noted it was best from 2024, which is where we are today. The descriptors are not of a Napa fruit bomb given limited oak, and WE noting it was more savory with black pepper and olive - and importantly - with fine grained tannins (which I assume is not âaustereâ).