Cabernet Franc wine: description, reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Cabernet Franc is one of the most popular red grape varieties on the planet. It is believed that his first vines were brought by Cardinal Richelieu to the Loire Valley in the 17th century.

They were dropped off at the abbey on the grounds of Bourgueil, where Abbot Breton looked after the vineyards. Later, this variety began to be associated with the name of this monk.

According to the second version, grapes were brought from Spain to France by pilgrims returning home from Santiago de Compostela.

Cabernet Franc at the beginning of the XVIII century began to grow throughout France. The main plantings of this variety were in Pomerol, Saint-Emilion, Fronsac and many other regions of the country. But from about the middle of the 19th century, the winemakers of the Left Bank gradually began to replace plantings with a "relative" of the variety - Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemakers believed that he was much more promising. Cabernet Franc on the Right Bank also "lost" its positions after the phylloxera epidemic that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century: then the vacant plots of land were planted with the Merlot variety, which was also preferred.

At the same time, Cabernet Franc has spread everywhere. ATCurrently, vineyards of this variety are found in many developed countries - in Hungary, Italy, China, Canada, Bulgaria, Spain, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Ukraine and other countries.

Features of the variety

Cabernet Franc is a medium-late technical red grape variety. It is a vigorous bushes that have rounded five-lobed large leaves with edges that are significantly bent down. Clusters of a cylindrical shape of medium size. The berries are round, medium-sized with very juicy pulp and fairly dense skin. Intense black color with an intense waxy finish.

Cabernet Franc is very reminiscent of Cabernet Sauvignon, while under equal growing conditions it ripens a whole week earlier than Sauvignon. Thanks to this, in Bordeaux, its planting is a kind of “insurance policy” if the Cabernet Sauvignon crop suffers.

The variety does well on a variety of soils, while it performs best on chalky soils.

It is mainly used for the production of Bordeaux style wines, in other words, it is used in blends with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. But in some regions of France and Italy, high-quality wines are made from the Cabernet Franc variety. Among them are Paleo Rosso by Le Macchiole, Cabernet Franc by Valentino Butussi.

Cabernet Franc wine is lighter, more aromatic, not as powerful as Cabernet Sauvignon. In the bouquet of such wines, you can catch light notes of raspberry leaves, currants, violets, nuances of gravel and lightvegetable tones. In a mixture with Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter gives the wines completeness, roundness, additional shades of fruit. For Merlot wines, this variety enriches with tannins and also increases their aging time.

Many vintners in the New World sometimes deliberately delay harvesting their grapes to minimize the green leafy tints that can be heard in the wine, hence the rich fruit flavors.

Other names of this variety: Carmenet, Breton, Gros-Bouchet, Bouchet, Veron, Gros-Vidure, Noir-Dur, Bouchy, Trouchet Noir, Messanges Rouge, Cabernet Franco, Cabernet Aunis, etc.

Geography of growth

It is one of the twenty grape varieties that are most widely used in the wine-growing regions of the entire planet. The largest number of vineyards is located in cool European regions. Currently, Cabernet Franc occupies about 45,000 hectares of vineyards, of which 36,000 are located in France.

France

Vineyards are used to create excellent Bordeaux blends, while playing a secondary role. It is predominantly distributed in the Loire Valley - red wines and roses of subregional appellations are made from Cabernet Franc, as well as in Bordeaux (Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac). It produces light wines with fairly non-aggressive tannins. Usually they are served chilled to 15 °. In the assemblage of these appellations, the proportion of Cabernet Franc is more than 50%, its properties are especially pronounced in the wines of Chateau Cheval Blanc.

The cultivar in 2000 was sixth on the list in all of France in terms of planting area.

Italy

In Italy at the beginning of 2000, there were about 7,000 hectares planted with Cabernet Franc. Since this variety is often confused with Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon, the exact planting size is unknown.

Cabernet Franc has been cultivated in the northeast of the country since the beginning of the 19th century. On the label, the word Cabernet says that the wine is made from this variety. The drinks produced in the regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto are distinguished by their rich color, aromas of red and black berries, rich mineral tones and rather high acidity. It should also be noted that the number of areas occupied by this variety has recently increased in Tuscany, in Maremma and Bolgheri in particular.

Other countries

This variety is growing in popularity in Canada, in the Niagara Peninsula region, Ontario, British Columbia. It is mainly used in blends, although more and more single-varietal wines have recently been made from it.

In the US, California winemakers show interest in Cabernet Franc, producing excellent Bordeaux blends. The largest plantings of this variety are located in the Sonoma and Napa valleys. Wines from the variety aged in oak show depth of flavor as well as excellent aging potential.

In addition, Cabernet Franc drinks are produced in Israel, New Zealand, Croatia, Australia, Chile and South Africa.

Now consider the most popular inour country drinks made from this grape variety.

Fanagoria rose wine, Cabernet Franc

Wine of deep pink color with a rich aroma of red berries, subtly accentuated by hints of champagne, is made from grapes of this variety grown in the Fanagoria wine region in its own vineyards using the method of single fermentation of the must in akratofor. The drink is characterized by a berry fresh taste and a creamy long aftertaste, it goes well with main dishes and all kinds of snacks. The most delicious snack are almonds. Judging by the reviews, sparkling wine as a digestif is served with fruits, desserts, creamy ice cream, and various sweets. Serving temperature – 6-8°С.

Jean-Pierre Moueix Bordeaux

This is also Cabernet Franc wine. Reviews say that this is a deep ruby colored drink with aromas of tobacco, strawberries and fresh cherries. Intense and rich on the palate with a long finish and silky tannins.

Grapes are supplied by several landowners on the basis of long-term contracts. Cabernet Franc and Merlot, which are part of the composition, are grown on soils that contain clay, sand and gravel. Perfectly complements poultry meat, various mushroom snacks.

Raevsky Renaissance

We continue to consider the red wines of Cabernet Franc. Reviews of this drink indicate that it has a dark garnet color with light ruby hues. Bright aroma with tones of black berries, ripe juicy fruits, tobacco leaf, spices and leather. The palate is powerful with tannin structures, as well as hints of violet and blackcurrant. The aftertaste is quite powerful with bright fruity notes.

It is worth noting that the vineyards of "Raevsky" are located exactly in the place where the first steps of domestic winemaking were once made - on the hills that are adjacent to the very village of Raevskaya, which received the name of the famous fort. The breeze from the Black Sea provides a significant difference in day and night temperatures, which is necessary for optimal maturation of the variety. The soils are sod-calcareous, clayey-limestone. The total area of the farm is 148 hectares.

According to the reviews, the wine goes well with bright sauces, meat dishes, barbecue, aged cheeses.

Chateau Vieux Lartigue

This is a semi-sweet Cabernet Franc ruby-red wine with pleasant aromas of strawberry jam, plums and black berries, as well as a woody tone. Elegant on the palate, round and medium-bodied, with hints of berries, vanilla and silky tannins on the finish.

Pairs well with grilled pork and beef, aged cheeses, game and rack of lamb.

Sassicaia

A deep ruby red wine. Its rich, rich aroma reveals shades of blackcurrant, as well as other dark berries, light notes of spices, minerals and lavender. Full-bodied, juicy and harmonious wine with a well-defined structure and notes of cedar andcurrant flavor. Reviews say that this drink is the perfect combination of grace and power. Should be served with a variety of game dishes and aged cheeses.

Chateau Potensac

Intense ruby red with slight purple highlights. A complex bouquet, which fully reveals the tones of red and black currants, cherries, cedar and strawberry liqueur, notes of cocoa beans and chocolate glaze. Perfectly balanced medium-bodied with well-palpable tannins, amazingly inscribed in the structure, and a long fruity aftertaste, where hints of spices and herbs are clearly audible.

Vineyards are located on an area of 84 hectares on gravel and alluvial soils with a low content of red clay. The average age of the vines is 35 years. Reviews say this wine pairs well with grilled meats.