BROWN BROTHERS 1985 CABERNET FRANC AND MERLOT Wholesale Price: $72.00 Recommended Retail Price: $10.99 Brown Brothers have released their first commercial blend of the Bordeaux varieties of cabernet franc and merlot. The family regards this recent addition to their range of varietal wines as an interesting departure from the traditional styles on which they have made their name. The wine reflects the modern approach and trend towards softness and elegance, which helps to make it ideally suited to the restaurant diner. Ready to drink now, it does not require much time to breathe once opened. Cabernet franc and merlot both originate in the premium French wine regions of Bordeaux, where they are both used to contribute softness and complexity to the often tannic and steely cabernet sauvignon wines. Both varieties have intense berry fruit flavours and richness, and when blended together can produce a very different and appealing alternative for the Australian palate. 0This wine was grown at the Browns’ King Valley vineyards, and makes a delightful, fresh soft red with plenty of potential for rapid development in the cellar. Its colour is a medium to full red-purple, in brilliant condition. Mellow, slightly herby and berry-like, the nose is made more complex by obvious oak treatment which contributes its creamy vanillin characters. The palate is supple and displays lively fruit flavours balanced with soft tannins, rich oak and acidity. Brown Brothers are confident that this wine will remain available for enough time to allow restaurants to consider it in forthcoming additions to their list. Should its popularity lead to an exhaustion of supply within a twelve-month period, they will immediately release the 1986 wine, from which year more of the wine was made. It is encouraging to see a company look after the demands of the restaurant industry in this way. Food suggestions: Lighter red dishes such as veal, lamb and perhaps pork. The wine’s fresh acid finish and balance of fruit suggests a potential to improve for at least three to five years.
