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 13, 2008

Panosh
I went to two placess looking for a Loire Valley Cab Franc but no luck. The ONLY one I found was a Napa ‘03 Carrefour. We quite enjoyed it. The nose was very deep and the initial taste had a lot of red berries and finished off with some slight tannins. Overall enjoyable. Probably not worth the $32 though.
February 13, 2008

Alex
Was that a bathtub duck that was squeaking at the beginning of the show?

I had a wine shop/bar close to home that recently went out of business. Now there is no place near home that I can sit down at and enjoy a bottle with friends after work. Granted, there are still several places to buy a few bottles but that place was a favorite of mine.
February 13, 2008

Valentin
I am the missing link between the Vayner nation and the rest of the human beings.
February 13, 2008

Sassodoro
It’s good to hear that you read comments that come in late. I’m getting behind in my watching, let alone commenting, but I’m hoping to catch up.

I want to like wines that taste like green peppers, because I have acquired a lot of wine (mostly Bordeaux) that has gone in that direction as it has aged, but I can’t seem to get my head around green pepper wine. Maybe I just need to find the right food matches. I did try a green-pepper-tasting Chilean Carmenere with a chicken curry, and that worked surprisingly well.

As far as Loire Cab Francs are concerned, I bought about 3 cases of a Saumur-Chapigny (produced by Thierry Chancelle) for a week-long family reunion last summer, but it wasn’t very popular and I have about a case and a half left. I had tasted it in the store before buying it, and it didn’t strike me as huge-green-pepper at the time, but lately it has been coming off as green pepper reduction sauce.

The Cab Franc that I have liked the most lately has been from Northern Italy, rather than the Loire. The producer is Castelcosa in Venezia Giulia. I have met the owner, Marco Furlan, and he says that Cab Franc is one of his favorite grapes. He makes this one in a way that brings out a black pepper flavor to balance the green pepper, tomato leaf, and tobacco.
February 13, 2008

Tom G of the CKC
I doubt I’ll be hitting the Loire anytime soon as my list of wines to try is already way too large and I’m anal about going through them in order of when I promised myself I’d try them! I’ll add it to the list, though!
February 13, 2008

John W. Taylor
I have never tried a Loire Valley red , but I would sure like to, I have thus far only had Loire Valley whites. Also, I have not yet tried a Cabernet Franc; I plan to, but I am not sure if it will be this week. I have only had small amounts Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux blends. I usually prefer my red wines blended with at least 3 to 4 different wine varietals and even a small amount of white wine blended with a red. To me it is UTOPIA when the blending is done well.
February 13, 2008

ChadD.
Wow…I feel bad for your friend! Course if he is a “playa” he probably doesn’t care what you think. ($60??!!)
I’ll try to find some Cab Franc this week.
February 13, 2008

dmg
I have both a chinon and a bourgueil in the cellar but I have not tried them yet. As soon as I figure out what to pair them with, I’ll give them a go.
February 13, 2008

Ryan D
QotD: Only had a few Cabernet Francs, you are right, they are not for everyone. I will eventually try a CF from the Loire Valley, but not this week, so no I can’t promise you.
February 13, 2008

Andy
Always enjoy the juice from the Loire valley ,, going to get a white and a red to taste .. Will send in the results . Cab Franc is always flying under the radar dude. What a disappointment with the Larkin … Oh well
February 13, 2008

Syrahhhhhhhhh
Hey Madange, it was the Northwest Wine Academy’s 2006. It was a barrel taste. They are about to bottle and we were trying some blends with merlot, petit verdot, and cab sauv. I preferred it 100% cab franc, but they felt people would think it was too funky. I said, “That’s why it’s so goooooood.”
February 13, 2008

Heather
Absolutely! I actually just had a Cab Franc this weekend that my sister opened up. It wasn’t bad. I am hoping to find one you tasted and compare my notes and see what my “pal” enjoys more!
February 13, 2008

RieslingRon
Hi Gary,

I have a Chinon at home that I’ve not tried yet. I’m on vacation down south and will look for a red Loire to try this weekend.

Talk to you next week.
February 13, 2008

MB Dallas
QOTD: Actually, just picked up a Cab Franc from Italy. Will have to try one from Loire valley too. I read somewhere that Italian Cab Francs from Friuli are actually Carmenere. Is this true?
February 13, 2008

Adam J
Just wanted to leave my first comment, I recently discovered the show and watch for a few weeks as a “lurker” but subscribed during the time that I believe you said a lot of lurkers came out about a week ago. I absolutely love the show and the passion GV brings to it. Most definately going Loire Red hunting…I believe there is even a local winery that produces Cab Franc in a Chinon style! Thanks!
Adam J
February 13, 2008

Ken T
Have 4 or 5 in the cellar. I will try 2!!!
February 13, 2008

Yoni Rabkin
QOTD: Let’s see me do it.
February 13, 2008

PFORTY
FWIW, I still want to try wines from Larkin!

QOTD: Absolutely, I’m headed to the Wine Store this afternoon, will find a Loire Red and leave a comment!
February 13, 2008

J Crazy
Damn dude, “mescaline salad”?! I think I tried some of that in college.

QOTD: Mos definitely.
February 13, 2008

Dom
I love Cab Franc! There are some great Cab Franc examples in Canada, especially some small producers in Niagara on the Lake. Tawsw, Chateau des Charmes, featherstone just to name a few! Hey Gary, how about a Niagara on the Lake episode?
February 13, 2008

SoCal
Props to you G for telling like it is….I could see that you really wanted to like the Larkin….but you kept it real…..Do you think he had to add the Oak due to overripeness or sourcing inferior grapes?

QOTD: We don’t get much CF down here from france….mostly Bordeaux….. but I do have 3 bottles left of the 2005 Frederic Mabileau Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Rouilleres that I got from WL so perhaps I will pop one soon…….
February 13, 2008

NathanN
Itâ€™s time to stock up on the Chinon again. Wife and I love this stuff with pizza. Itâ€™s almost like we canâ€™t eat pizza unless we are having a bottle from Chinon. Never had one before ep 200 but now itâ€™s one of our go to regions.
February 13, 2008

JordanW
QOTD: Sorry man. I’m off on a snowboard trip this week and already have 5-6 wines picked out. Maybe when I get back.

PS, kudos on calling em as you see em… I respect a friend much more who can tell me what he really thinks without worrying about my ego.
February 13, 2008

Jack
QOTD: Atlanta Fine Wine Festival this weekend… I’ll be looking for the CFs.

Is Larkin still your friend… perhaps you can pull him out from under the bus now.
February 13, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD: I got 1 Chinon and 1 Bourguiel in my “cellar” and it’s time- I’m popping one of them this week! (I’ll let you know how it was with a retroactive comment here.)