WBW French Cabernet Franc

WBW French Cabernet Franc - Episode #435

April 2, 2008

I am super honored to be hosting this months Wine Blogging Wednesday, I choose Cabernet Franc from France and so here we go! Please make sure you check out the link below and see ALL the wine Bloggers efforts!

Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version.

Comments on this episode(210) Leave a comment ›

“I had the 2003 Lucas & Lewellen Cabernet Franc Santa Barbara Count…” by Tommy Vernieri
“QOTD: Last Chinon I had was at a local restaurant. A little too one-…” by Michael H
View all 210 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Gasnier Chinon Vieilles VignesChinon
2005 Domaine De La Butte Mi PenteBourgueil
1990 Olga Raffault Chinon Les PicassesChinon

Links mentioned in todays episode.

210 Responses

Pages: [9] 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All

about 2 weeks ago

Tommy Vernieri
I had the 2003 Lucas & Lewellen Cabernet Franc Santa Barbara County a couple months ago (got it from wine.woot). It was decent.

Had some rotten vegetable aromas initially that blew off quickly. Lots of berries on the palate. The alcohol is somewhat contained but you know it’s there.
about 3 weeks ago

Michael H
QOTD: Last Chinon I had was at a local restaurant. A little too one-sided with the vegetables. A big time roasted bell pepper nose with a tomato juice flavor profile…
about 3 weeks ago

Anne
We (husband & I) discovered you this spring and asa result have spent the last few months seeking wines we’ve never had…including Cab Franc, which turns out to be the epitomy of what I love in wine…earthy and mineral. We’re pretty new to the wine world (hey, some newbies DO like old world wines!) and big fans! Now I gotta get on line and get your book…
about 4 weeks ago

Ryan
Gary,

Question for you. Have you ever tasted manure?
about 4 weeks ago

The Wine Nazi
I absolutely adore cabernet FRANCS; which may come as somewhat of a surprise because I absolutely hate cabernet SAUVIGONS. Just can’t stand them. Yup, I know, it is a personal thing. Gary said that Bordeaux lovers can appreciate cabernet francs. That is so true, because there is an obvious similarity. But the amazing thing is that even Bordeaux haters such as me can LOVE cabernet francs. Perhaps the main reason is that because of the latitude, the Loire valley wines bring a lot more acidity to the game: these wines quench my thirst, whereas the typical Bordeaux red makes me want to drink A LOT OF beer to quench my thirst.

Anyway, feel free to disagree!

Bring on the Bourgeuil! (The one Gary had was quite expensive, there should be a lot of simpler ones that cost a fraction of the price - in France/Europe they typically cost $6-$8)
about 4 weeks ago

E-Dub
Last Cab Franc experience was Chinon Pere du Leonce - Opened the bottle and the room was filled with the smell… and I mean filled with the smell of ROASTED PEANUTS! Outrageously interesting. Blew off after 24 hours and wasn’t nearly as interesting on the second day.

Would try it again if I see another value.

E-Dub
about a month ago

SJR
have not yet tried a bottle from France… got a bottle of 2004 Inniskillin Cab Franc last Christmas that I really enjoyed (made from Canadian and imported grapes) Just picked up a bottle of their 2005 vintage that I will be opening tomorrow - hope it is just as good or better.

Gary - I think your taste in wine is similar to my own in that I prefer the vegetal flavours over the fruity flavours any day. Some of your descriptions of manure smell reminded me of my first experience with Marachal Foche, wonder if you have reviewed any of that style…?
about a month ago

wannaBconnoisseur
Interesting, not had many of these wines.

Q-Not sure what i am waiting for??
about a month ago

Collin
QOTD - A wise man once said, “The harder I work, the luckier I am.” I think that may at least partially answer your question.
about a month ago

charlie berg
that was a fascinating episode. I’d love to try some loire cab franc…
about a month ago

Kevin C
Its not hard to find good cabernet franc from the Loire here in Brussels, but I was recently blown away on a trip to Saumur last summer. It was an unexpected wine paradise with fantastic reds on top of stunning whites and roses. Add in super nice unpretentious winemakers for a rare combination. I do find the emphasis on vegetables and rotting carcasses a bit strange as I tasted not a single wine like this. Plenty of dry, woody, and tannic wines, but also some great pure fruit. Incredible values too. Domaine Filliatreau was a favorite visit. Their Chateau Fouquet at €15.00 is a steal.
about a month ago

john witherspoon (J DUB)
loving cab franc
here is my post - better late than never!

http://anythingwine.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/wine-blogging-wednesday-44-french-cabernet-franc/

J DUB
about a month ago

Allison
Gary - love Cab Franc??? How about doing a nod to your Seattle trip?

Take your fav Cab Franc and put it up against Walla Walla Vintner’s 2005 Cab Franc. Would be interested in hearing your thoughts.
about a month ago

agentorange
Gary,

Just catching up now.

“it’s nice to like everything”

particularly

“youthful juberance”

We love you man.
about a month ago

Derek
Great show gary, I love Cab franc.
about a month ago

Tyler
Here ya go Gary

Thanks for hosting

Wine Blogging Wednesday #44 French Cabernet Franc
about a month ago

AVP
QOTD: Chinon La Baronnie Madeleine by Couly-Dutheil 2001. Quite funkee.
about a month ago

DJB
Haven’t had Cab Franc from France. I am waiting for the money to start rolling in! I have had an Australian Cab Franc from Wine settlement company that I loved, and I recently had a Cougar Crest Cab Franc that I enjoyed as well.
about a month ago

Harley Stan
WOW, great epsiode, lots of energy.
QOTD- I don’t remember the last Cab Franc but I am sure I have had one, I guess it means I need to have another one.
about a month ago

pawncop
At last I can respond in positive fashion. Wrote you back in February regarding a Couly-Dutheil Chinon 2005 I found after another earlier episode and loved it. Pairs well with hot Italian sausage grilled with peppers, onion and garlic.

Bought another bottle shortly after that and will try it a little later.

Good episode as always.
about a month ago

Dan-o
I am a big fan of Cab Franc and therefore this show hit home.
I do not know the producers in Chinon that well, but I always have 3-6 bottles of Chinon or Saumur in my cellar.

I sent you a note a while back about a Cab Franc from CA that was really good - like drinking a glass of vegetables - I think it was called Glaeser.
about a month ago

Karl Laczko
Nice show Gary, even with the manure! Good choice for WBW 44.

QOTD - see my WBW 44 post on Reign of Terroir! Here’s the summary of the Reign of Terroir contributions, for some reason it’s not showing my “Greybeard” post linking these in….
http://reignofterroir.com/2008/04/01/cabernet-franc-wine-blogging-wednesday-44/
http://reignofterroir.com/2008/04/02/how-professionals-taste-wine/
about a month ago

Greybeard
Here’s the R.O.T. links for WBW 44, http://reignofterroir.com/2008/04/01/cabernet-franc-wine-blogging-wednesday-44/ for Ken & mine’s efforts, and http://reignofterroir.com/2008/04/02/how-professionals-taste-wine/ for Donna’s excellent tasting interview.
about a month ago

John Skupny
GV = incredible energy you created with your theme, thanks for being a franc-fan!

In honor of the challenge, and with the boyz at home, I opened the 2005 Bernard Baudry ‘Les Grezeaux’ Chinon. The persistent beam of pure Cabernet Franc fruit just kept me jumping up and down [ala GV] and shouting, this is it, this is it, don’t forget this!… pretty tightly wound and wanting at least a few more years, we had to open a second bottle in hopes of leaving a glass or two to test the next day. No luck - decanter was empty before lights out.
let them drink franc!
about a month ago

chenrys
Didn’t get to watch this until Friday…but great show.
We’ve had Cab Franc from California and Georgia.