My favorite Vignamaggio wine has long been its Bordeaux offering, and the 2001 Vignamaggio Cabernet Franc is unquestionably the finest since the two memorable vintages of 1990 and 1991, the era when Franco Bernabei was in charge of the winemaking. These are old vines, planted in the mid-1950s, and not even in rows – a vine here, a vine there amidst Sangiovese, Canoiolo, and other Tuscan grapes. Fortunately Cabernet Franc has a very distinctive leaf both in terms of shape and color, otherwise the harvest would be a true nightmare. The 2001 version of the wine shows that when Cabernet Franc ripens well in Tuscany it gives a wine of formidable character, penetrating and characterful in aroma with fragrant scents of black pepper, mint, black currants, and blackberries, much length, classy tannins, and a shapely strength which impresses for its finesse as much for its strength. This wine will provide superior drinking satisfaction for another dozen years.Importer: Bedford International, Larchmont, NY; tel. (914) 833-9650