2011 Behrens Family Erna Schein The Front Man
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
(88% merlot and 12% cabernet sauvignon; aged in 75% new oak): Bright, dark red. Musky, wild aromas of currant, truffle, chocolate and mocha. Ripe, seamless and sweet, with plump flavors of currant and truffle. Delivers a nicely fine-grained texture and good fullness for a 2011. Finishes with slightly dusty tannins. Les Behrens told me that a stringent selection was carried out to make this wine.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Front Man bursts from the glass with notable intensity and depth. An unusually ripe, opulent wine for the year, the 2011 shows tons of varietal character. Mocha, licorice, plums, cloves and licorice all meld together in the glass in the Merlot-based Front Man. This is one of the bolder, more overt wines in the range. The blend is 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2011 Proprietary Red Front Man is the Behrens Family Winery’s entry into the Merlot sweepstakes. A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, it offers up a seductive perfume of blueberries, raspberries and a hint of wild flowers. While I’m not generally a great fan of Merlot, this stunning effort displays layers of ripe fruit, lots of complexity, a mouthfilling generosity, and impeccable purity and balance. Leave it to Les Behrens to pull off a world-class Merlot from his camp on top of Spring Mountain. This beauty is already appealing, and should keep for at least a decade. Bravo! The always interesting, creative Behrens Family operation high on Spring Mountain has fashioned another enticing portfolio of wines with some of the most creepy and funny labels in the wine business. The labels often belie just how serious this estate is about its vineyards and the quality of its wines. Tel. (707) 963-1774