| Francis Coppola Diamond Series
Claret 1998
by Kevin R. Kosar In the early 80's, both I and clove cigarettes found a home in every nightclub from Los Angeles to Manhattan. Cloves were luscious in the mouth. I remember breathing deep and letting the thick clove smoke fold out of my mouth in seductive moving dances. Lick my lips and you can taste the sweetness of the clove. In the 90's we all gave up smoking. Bye-Bye Djarum. The closest I get to cloves now is on the Christmas ham or when I break into the spice cabinet and chew on a clove sprig. |
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Fortunately, I've discovered Francis Coppola's Claret. The scent of clove is gentle, but unmistakable. There's a faint berry sweetness on the tongue. As I've come to expect from the Coppola estate, it is a beautifully balanced wine. On a dark night when my aging legs can't go dancing, I'll still have the Coppola Claret to remind me. I'll also be taking a couple bottles to the family holiday gathering; it'll be delicious with ham. In the process, it might knock out the sounds of pampered children and sanctimonious, tee-totaling relatives. You and me Francis, we can either get the relatives tipsy or we can enjoy the Claret and ignore them. (Rating****) |
| Editor's Note: What's Claret,
you ask? Well, in this case, Claret is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon,
17% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, and 3% Malbec. With all that Cabernet
Sauvignon you wouldn't expect to get a light fruity red, like a Beaujolais
Nouveau.
Indeed, this wine is full bodied,
yet the Cab Franc and other grapes add levity, the result being a complex
mix of light cloves, soft vanilla, and a bit of blackberry. Quite
good, and well worth trying.
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