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Wine Review – 2016 Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut

Francis Ford Coppola's 2016 Director's Cut red wine bottle with wine glass

The 2016 edition of Francis Ford Coppola’s Director’s Cut upholds the famous director’s legacy…

Name: Director’s Cut

Vintage: 2016

Producer: Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Region/Country: California, USA

Grape Varietal(s): Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot

Alcohol Level: 14%

Consumed: At home

Recommended By: Found it at the LCBO (local liquor board)

Cost: $42.95 CAD (at the LCBO)

For the more detailed wine review, read on…

Bottle Presentation

Hard to miss the movie reel-like distinctive label on the shelf; an authentic representation of the eponymous owner.

Appearance

Medium ruby.

Nose

Clean, medium(+) intensity nose, with notes of red and black cherry, cranberries, red plums, blackberries, black currant, white pepper, blackcurrant leaf, garrigue, tomato leaf, bacon, fennel, violets, vanilla, steak spice, meat, leather, caramel. We would consider this a developing wine.

Palate

Dry, medium(+) body, with high acidity, high tannins, and high alcohol. The wine had a pronounced flavour intensity with notes of red cherry, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrant leaf, garrigue, cassis, menthol, violets, tea leaf, earth, vanilla, and chocolate.

Finish

Long and leafy.

Overall Impressions

This 2016 version of Francis Ford Coppola’s Director’s Cut is big and bold, like an action-packed blockbuster movie with a few nuances and, perhaps, some social commentary. Balanced and complex, it had great intensity and length. Overall, we’d consider this a very good wine.

We poured this red blend with our usual Friday night pizzas, a Calabrese pizza and a honey and goat cheese Margherita pizza. Granted, the spicy character of the Calabrese pizza boosted the 2016 Director’s Cut alcohol, which offered a noticeable burning feel. In contrast, the Margherita pizza brought out this wine’s bright red and black fruit character.

With intense red and black fruit, this wine is ready to drink now, and it would pair wonderfully with flavourful foods such as grilled steak and vegetables. Saying that, the emerging tertiary notes, like chocolate and leather, as well as the wine’s solid structure (high acidity and medium(+) body), lead us to conclude the 2016 Director’s Cut has potential for further ageing. Over time, we’d expect more tertiary notes such as balsamic vinegar, fig, and prunes.

Ratings

Overall Rating: 93/100.

E-Wine rating: 4/5. We would purchase a couple of bottles of the 2016 Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut, one to enjoy now and another to enjoy in three to five years.

Value: 3.5/5. Good value.

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