Lo-Fi Cabernet Franc 2023

Kenji Watanabe - My new favourite cab franc

9/10

Saw Lo-Fi on a restaurant menu and ordered it on a whim. Absolutely loved it. The nose is so expressive and the palate has this depth that kept me interested right to the bottom of the glass. Tracked down a bottle to have at home and it was just as good. This is proper wine.

Lena Petrova - Really pleasant surprise

8/10

Picked this up because the guy at the wine shop recommended it when I said I wanted something interesting but not too heavy. Really glad I did — it's got this lovely fragrant nose that hits you as soon as you pour it, and the balance is spot on. Would absolutely buy again.

Idris Ibrahim - Understated and well made

7/10

I like that this doesn't try too hard. The fruit and acidity are nicely balanced and there's a composure to it that I appreciate — nothing screaming for attention. At 14% it carries its weight well too. Quietly impressive.

Ruth Banks - Decent, didn't blow me away

6/10

Maybe I was expecting more based on what I'd read, but while it's a perfectly fine wine it didn't quite click for me. The nose is nice and fragrant but on the palate I wanted a bit more punch for the price. My partner loved it though so maybe it's just me.

Zara Al-Hassan - Good but a bit steep

6/10

It's a nice enough wine — clean finish, decent complexity — but I'm not sure it's worth nearly thirty quid. I've had cab francs at £18-20 that gave me a similar experience. Would drink it again if someone else was buying though.

Rosa Paredes - Solid cab franc

7/10

Nice wine. Good structure, nothing too in your face, just well put together. Had it with a lamb stew and it worked perfectly. At £28 it's not an everyday bottle but it's fair for the quality.

Valentina Ricci - Nice for a midweek treat

7/10

Had this with some pasta and it was really enjoyable. Not the most complex wine I've ever had but it's well balanced and the finish is clean and pleasant. I'm still pretty new to exploring reds beyond malbec and shiraz so this was a good step for me.

Henrik Larsen - Perfect dinner party wine

8/10

Brought this to a friend's birthday dinner and everyone commented on it. It smells amazing straight out of the bottle, really inviting, and it's the kind of wine where you keep going back for another glass without really thinking about it. The finish just lingers in a really nice way.