2022 Meso Cabernet Franc by LXV Wines – Dark, Alluring, Poetic and Intense
Photo from LXV Wines Website
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
There is a fine line between poetry and wine. Add the rich and proud heritage of Indian culture, the descriptions become intertwined. When thinking about Indian poetry it conjures up rich imagery and philosophical depth. Adding a lyrical poetry element and you have an appropriate description of this wine!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First, Meso refers to mesoclimate for a specific vineyard site influenced by elevation, proximity to water and land gaps. It is between the larger macroclimate (region) and smaller microclimate (specific area within a vineyard). The 2022 Meso by LXV Wines Cabernet Franc is 100% Cabernet Franc. It comes from the Willow Creek District of the Paso Robles AVA. It was aged in 50% new French oak barrels (Quintessence Montpensier and Darnajou) and 50% used French oak.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes the almost black coloring of deep rich fruits entices one to partake of this elixir. Once the aromas waft from the glass, one is excited beyond ordinary expectations like a child on Christmas morning. On the palate, blackberry, ripe plum and soft vanilla pipe tobacco swirl about in the mouth. LXV Meso is all about textural experience and this on the palate exemplifies this with both sharp and embracing tannins. Counterbalanced with the concentrated and lively fruit. The long-lasting finish provides that rhythmic and lyrical enticement mentioned earlier with the similarity to poetry.
It is 100% Cabernet Franc and lists at $150/bottle. This year at the 6th Annual International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition it received scores of Gold and Double Gold from two different sets of judges. One of the more enticing and rich Cabernet Franc wines tasted. It will make my annual Best Wines tasted for 2025.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a beef filet mignon. Seasoned, seared and then BBQ’ed to medium rare. Danish Blue cheese crumbles topped off the steak. Accompanied by roasted potatoes with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and garlic French bread. Also, a fresh garden salad with Danish Blue cheese, fresh Roma tomatoes and green onions. The tannins cut through the tender meat and provided a perfect food and wine pairing.
The Winery and Wine Tasting Experience
LXV provides a unique tasting experience. So much so that they were rated one of the Top 10 tasting experiences as rated by USA Today. LXV, besides holding regular wine tasting, provide an optional spice pairing. The spice pairings are far reaching with Peruvian, Mystic Orient, Smolder Notes, Turkish Shores, Shmeli Suneli and many more spice packets. One is whisked away with their proprietary blends to capture the adventures of different cultures and culinary treats.
Photo of Neeta Mittal from their website
The idea of exotic spices started with Neeta’s mother in a town south of Mumbai. Her mother would regularly visit the spice markets to purchase fragrant herbs and spices to go with their handmade Tandoori Masala. One of the goals of spice tasting is to open the confined discussion of pH and acidity of wine to a broad horizon of international flavors.
Today they offer besides a variety of “Bordeaux influenced wines”, others like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Syrah and many more. For more information you can read a previously published story:
Sláinte,
Michael