2007 Cave de Saumur Selection Rouge (was $13)

What a great cab franc! Lovely dark and earthy fruits with just a touch of that green pepper edge to it. Decant it for a bit before you drink it to release any funkiness that it might have.

The textural soils of Saumur contain large amounts of tuffeau, a creamy calcareous stone that was excavated for the building of châteaux and even sent abroad for the reconstruction of London following the Great Fire. The remaining caves were ideal for growing incredible mushrooms and cellaring fine wine, two things the locals knew a lot about. Cabernet Franc flourishes in the cool climate of the Loire, and I have to credit our own epicurean Eric Story with discovering this phenomenal version, a vineyard in a bottle that will sate the appetite, abolish thirst and ballast spirits! Serious, beautifully-balanced wine at an unbelievable price.

Wow! Do not miss this one. It drinks better than a lot of wines at twice the price. It's loaded with complexity. Black fruit, earth, iron, lavender and sage float up from the glass. There is a touch of leather on the palate as well adding a further layer. This will be perfect for Thanksgiving, as well.

Metallic and mildly unpleasant. Drinkable, but barely. There are much better values in the Cotes du Rhone aisle.

Not my cup of tea, a little too thin and sour. Better on day 2 and needs food.