The full-bodied 2011 Anjou Cabernet Franc Cuvée Violette is from the same soils as the regular Anjou but more powerful, sweet and concentrated and – with enough aeration – also more floral. This is a rich, noble, well-manufactured jewel of Cabernet Franc combining clarity, freshness and finesse with intensity and power. I’d put it rather in a luxury Bordeaux, Right Bank context compared with the regular Cabernet Franc, but this is no argument against this wine which reveals floral and spicy scented flavors of dark berries, black chocolate and marzipan on the nose and is fleshy, fruit-intense and well balanced on the palate. Structured by firm tannins, this is rather a winter wine and should be a good match with braised meat. In any case, I would recommend to give it another couple of years of bottle age. - Stephan Reinhardt