Cabernet Franc From Different Places

Cabernet Franc From Different Places – Episode #406

February 12, 2008

Gary tastes 3 very serious Cabernet Franc wines 2 from Loire valley and one from California.

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Comments on this episode(285) Leave a comment ›

“i am going to seek one out ! i havent had one yet . . i know i know i …” by CaseyLee
“Loire Valley wines (all of them) are the dogs bo**ocks my friend; i.e …” by TommyB
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Amirault Bourguiel La CoudrayeBourgueil
2004 Olek-mery Chinon Des TireauxChinon
2005 Larkin Cabernet FrancNapa Cabernet Franc

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Bourgeuil Pronounced Boor-Goy From Loire. – Episode #175

285 Responses

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February 17, 2008

Brian Swanson
Great show, GV. Can’t grab the cab franc this weekend. BUT-I’m heading out to your neck of the woods on 3/1 (first birthday party for my pain in the a$$ brother-in-law’s niece – she’s great-he’s the pain in the a$$), so I’ll definitely be hitting W.L. before heading back to NYC. I’m gonna cut a swath through your Portugal and Loire Valley sections – can’t wait.
February 17, 2008

Kevin C.
GREAT episode GV! Go back to the New Year’s resolutions and you will se that mine was to try more Loire reds. This weekend had Sauvion Chinon at about $13. Got some of that tomato,celery and prune/plum action. Have at St Nicholas de Bourgeil up next. I have definitely found these wines interesting, stretching my normal list of descriptors, and definitely not favored by the less enthusiatic wine drinkers in the house
February 17, 2008

DARREL LAS VEGAS
Try CONIGLIO C/F Napa THIS ROCKS!
February 16, 2008

Paul
GV, must say that I am more a New World kind of drinker, but that could change as I listen to you and try wines from areas like the Loire. Will be searching for one of these on my next trip, and see if my pal can deal with the “funky-funk”. Not an Oak Monster fan, but a little oak is not so bad, for me. Love your excitement and passion. It is contagious. Keep up the good work, you are the leader of the Vayniac nation.
February 15, 2008

Patrick
I just tasted my first 100% Cab Franc at a local winery (La Grange) today. Excellent! Very similar to what you describe when tasting the Bourguiel. Dirty dirty veggies and funk. Loved it.
February 15, 2008

organicmexican
GV-So we are back to report on our Cab Franc tasting. We made a valentines dinner at home and had it with a bottle from Bourgueill 2005 from Yannick Amirault. It was great. It was a little challenged on the nose but it tasted great. What was so amazing was that we loved it more as we kept drinking it. Either it was opening up more or we were “opening” up more. We fought over the last pour but I gave in since it was Valentines Day. Thanks for the recommendation and we will be sure to try more of these wines. In addition we bought a 2005 Cab Franc from California called Franc from M. Cosentino that we are going to try this weekend to do a little old world vs new world.
February 15, 2008

Tommy Vernieri
We went out and got one for this weekend. Our friendly local wine shop owner recommended it (we didn’t go to Total Wine, which makes me feel good). It turns out you actually reviewed it and liked it. I’ll let you know what we think.

2005 Frederic Mabileau Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Rouilleres
February 15, 2008

Lawrence Leichtman
Loire reds, always a big hit in this house especially Chinon. Don’t forget all of the great whites of Loire either, the are some of the tastiest of all.

Still can’t figure out why so many American producers of Cab Franc do such a bad job and they sure seem to.
February 15, 2008

Atreyu
Gary,
great episode! Your enthusiasm makes me want to try a Loire valley cab franc again. Previous times it didn’t impress me, but i’ll give it another try. It would be great if you could put one in free shipping.
Have a good weekend!
February 15, 2008

Grapestompper (Dave)
I am so there with Cab Franc. The Loire is the Cab Franc capital of the world! I will go out and get a few because that’s what I do anyway, but for you too GV. Cali’s are good I’m not as opposed to a fruit bomb now and then. Usually a Cab Franc is never a BOMB even form Cali. To me Long Island NY Cab Franc’s are the next best thing to the Loire.
February 15, 2008

Karl Laczko
I am with you on the Cab Franc Gary, love the Loire!

“English” green peas – what other sort of green peas are there?

QOTD – Note sure, I do have one C-F about ready for drinking, the Marchesseau Fils 2003 Bourgueil (and another Bourgueil and 2 Chinons for the next 2-3 years) but I’m not really ready for it yet. I’ll try and remember to come back to this ep’ when I do pop it.
February 15, 2008

John S
Gary

Great mission for the weekend. I’m personally a real fan of Cabernet Franc, even though I’m from England I fell for it through an american wine! Have managed to track down some Yannick Amirault St-Nicolas de Bourgueil for this weekend – a La Mine 2005 and a Les Malgagnes 2005.
February 15, 2008

Rolf Lydecker
I’m down with the Old World as well, although there is a lot of good stuff from Cali, but I too hate the oak monster! Oak is bad.
February 15, 2008

Anjay
YES I WILL! And I’m coming to buy it today!
February 15, 2008

TonyStro
UNBELIEVABLE! I just found a bottle of Yannick Amirault Bourgueil La Coudraye 2003 here in Pakistan !! I’m gonna pop it this weekend. Will let you know how it was.
Also found a 2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils La Vignee Bourgogne Pinot Noir and a 2004 Bonterra Shiraz-Carignane (Cali organic). I’ve never heard of the carignane grape so had to buy it. I’ll likely try that one tonite.
February 15, 2008

Isaac
I will try a Cab Franc this weekend!
February 15, 2008

Erik Klumpp
Carbernet Franc is my new favorite wine grape. And Iâ€™m not sure why. For some reason I really enjoy the taste. Usually used as a intermediate grape in bordeauxâ€™s Cab Franc carries complexity better than any grape I know. Of course there are exceptions, such as Douro from Portugal. But Cab Franc really has a way of getting your pallet into the earth, smelling all the intricacies that go into wine making. My introduction, for which I am sorry that it wasnâ€™t French, came from a really lovely Napa Valley wine. I have been knocking Napa of late, but god damn this wine is amazing. The nose has hints of cedar, tobacco, and rose petals, with a really nice caramel undertone. The taste is really hard to pin down, and I am still working on it. But I get plums, tobacco, hints of black pepper, and a little oak, which rounds out the wine really nice. My tasting notes are kind of vague, but I really enjoyed it. It definitely was not a cheap bottle of wine, but every once in a while you have to splurg. I think the next time I drink it I will serve it with Short Ribs that are cooked in a chile coffee red wine sauce. Balla Balla Balla. I know. But I just wanted to give you a little insight.
February 15, 2008

Cosanostra
Ok, I love Washington State Cab Franc and have dozens in the cellar but on your word I’m bringing up a 2005 Domaine du Pas St. Martin “Saumur” for this weekend. Vegetables eh? I think I’ll still prefer the dark chocolate and spice of an Owen Sullivan or Barrister Cab Franc, but I’ll give it a shot.
February 15, 2008

Andrew
I am on board with Gary on this episode. Cab franc is one of my favorite wines. Anyone who loves wine should try it. And I have to ssay I love Gary’s unabashed enthusiasm on this show and how animated and downright hilarious he can be when describing the wines. Great show.
February 14, 2008

Rani Haykal
QOTD (continued from a few days ago): Just opened up a bottle of Domaine du Grand Bouqueteau Chinon 2005 100% Cabernet Franc. Very surprised at how new world this wine is. Not horrible at all, very fruit forward….lots of red cherries and raspberries. Alcohol is integrated very nicely. It feels as if the fruit overpowers it a bit much, which i guess is not bad but i was hoping for a bit more tannins. Finish is nice though….1min+. For a $13 bottle, its not horrible…especially as it tastes like some Napa wines I’ve had for $30-$40. Maybe next time I’ll seek out a bit of a higher quality loire red.

Definitely looking forward to a ‘00 Madiran for tomorrow night. Much more my style with huge tannins. hopefully it opens up a bit though.

–RH
February 14, 2008

tmr
qotd: picked up a bottle of 2005 Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Bourgueil CuvÃ©e Alouettes (imported by Kermit Lynch). some veggies on the nose, more classic blue/blackberries otherwise, ridiculous smooth mouthfeel & a kinky chalky finish that i really dig. REDUNKULOUS QPR (for me) at $14 a bottle.

safe to say that i would NOT have thought of trying this w/out your prodding. so, tiresome though it may be for you to hear it over & over again, thank you for helping me expand the boundaries of my wine comfort box. thank you very much.
February 14, 2008

Chippewamike
Well, I found a Cab Franc to try for the first time tonight. I found a 2003 Chinon Baronnie Madeleine. Decanted for about an hour. Tried first glass without any food. Vegetal on the nose and to the taste–funky like you said. Honestly, did not really like it. Then had it with dinner and WOW, this wine does go well with food. My wife really enjoyed the Cab Franc with dinner and without. Always said she had “better taste” then I did
Gary, thanks again for getting us to expand our pals. Did so tonight and was impressed with what we found. My wife, who is very new to wine, said that we found a “keeper”.
February 14, 2008

sev
Gary, you forgot Long Island Cabernet Franc! With a lot of 2005’s out there now, and the 2007’s coming soon (both awesome years) you can find some great wine. Pretty much all of them retail under $25 too. I have only had one Loire red, it was a Chinon without much going on. Retailed for about $20, and was a definite pass because it was ultra light in body and aroma. I will seek some more out though. You definitely have me sold on them!
February 14, 2008

ChezJosh
Have done, will do, always a big fan of the old world veggie/funk’d'funk wines.
February 14, 2008

gayle
I will be treking in the backcountry this weekend. How does Cab Franc hold up in a nalgene bottle?