Another wine from the Charleston Food and Wine event.

At a ‘Blended’ event offering blended wines with a wide variety of small plates (ranging from lamb chops to gnocchi based ‘Mac n Cheese’) we had the opportunity to taste three vintages of the Vinoce Mt. Veeder Cabernet Franc (2008, 2011, 2014). Obviously, the organizers ‘cheated’ and allowed a few single varietals to be poured. Good for us …

The Vinoce wines were uniformly excellent. They age beautifully. The 2008 was complex with excellent balance; the 2011 evolved with the fruit more prominent and the finish extraordinary; the 2014 was fruit forward and simply fun. There are two issue…they are expensive (about $70), and they are only available in California. This wine would be worth the hunt and worth the wait for it to age a few years.

However, Vinoce also produces 20 Rows Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is more widely distributed and more affordable (about $20). Very good. Look for this one …