The 2009 Cabernet Franc Conner Lee Vineyard (100%) offers up a panorama of herbs and spices, floral notes, cassis, and black currants. In the glass it opens to reveal its elegant personality along with layered savory flavors, good balance, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. It will provide enjoyment through 2021 and is an outstanding value. If I were forced to name a single Washington winery offering the best value across the entire range of their portfolio, it might well be Arbor Crest. I made that statement one year ago and these new releases only reinforce my view.Tel. (509) 927-9463; www.arborcrest.com

Scents suggest sweet grain and cracker ahead of thinly defined red fruit, and flavors follow. Light and slightly grapey, this is best consumed young.——P.G.(12/15/2011)—— 87

The 2008 Cabernet Franc Conner Lee Vineyard spent 20 months in French oak. It is deep purple-colored with a nose of cedar, sage, thyme, mineral, tobacco, cassis, and black currant. Medium-bodied, elegant, and concentrated on the palate, it has the balance to evolve for 2-3 years. This lengthy effort will be at its best from 2012 to 2023. If I was forced to name a single Washington winery offering the best value across the entire range of their portfolio, it might well be Arbor Crest.Tel. (509) 927-9463; www.arborcrest.com

The 2007 Cabernet Franc Conner Lee Vineyard is stunningly good for the money. Dark ruby colored, it sports a complex perfume of smoke, cinnamon, clove, black cherry, and plum. Medium-bodied, intense, and savory, this layered effort has superior balance and length while over-delivering big-time. Enjoy it over the next 6-8 years. .Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, located in Spokane, makes excellent wines at a range of price points.Tel. (509) 927-9463; www.arborcrest.com

Since 1993 Arbor Crest has done this single-vineyard Cabernet Franc. As with all these wines the aromas set up the palate—scents of berry, tobacco and fresh ground coffee. In the mouth it carries on with very clean and fresh fruit, ripe and chewy/herbal tannins, excellent acid balance and a light bitter coffee finish.——P.G.(9/1/2010)—— 90