How come Mott doesn't always link it up?

Hey Gary! GREAT SHOW! You're the man when it comes to wine!

I'm watching this episode for the second time, unwittingly at first, and I've never commented on a non current episode, but I must say, this may be the best, most classic "Gary" episode that I've seen, and by that I mean this is the episode I would link someone to who hasn't seen the show. If your not down with this episode your not down with the thunder show.

I may have commented on this when I first watched it, but I want to do so again if I have already. I love Chinon wines, and have been introducing them to friends and family whenever I can. They have been a bigger hit with the latter than the former. I can't really get enough of them. I have also tried a few Cabernet Francs from Virginia, which have been decent to good, but seem fruitier to me then the Chinons. I love the vegetable flavors, the more bell pepper the happier I am. I honestly never would have tried them were it not for these shows. So...thanks for that.

A root beer show!? Cant wait! Ive had that root beer and it ROCKS! Along with the Henry Weinhards its my favorite. Canned rootbeer? Dont bring that fake trash in here!!! Its all about the bottles and the pure ingredients, baby! QOTD: You keep asking what Im waiting for and I keep having to answer "For you to tell me to drink it." Baaaaaaaa ;)

Hi,


Last year, I was on a business trip in France (Tours region, just beside Bourgueil vinayards) and I brought back from France a Vouvray and one of theses Bourgueil bottles: Domaine de la butte, Mi-Pente, 2004 (instead of the 2005 rated on this blog). I drank with friends that Bourgueuil bottle 2 weeks ago and the taste was simply:

IN CRE DI BLE!!!!!!!

Perfect match with red meats with vegetables! Dry, sophisticated and a burst of flavors and far different from these fruity wines.

Moreover, I think that wine has an incredible maturing potential.

However, local people in Tours advised me that the "St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueuil" (AOC just beside Bourgueuil, but different) is even better. Ummm, I think that I will try it when I'll have a chance.

Unfortunately, it seems that Loire Valley's wines are under rated by most of wine "specialists". Perhaps only related to the fact that Bordeaux appelations have far more budget to promote their wines than smaller producers you may found in Loire Valley.

I have seen this review twice and it is one of my favourites, partially because it is devoted entirely to the (IMHO) great Cabernet Franc, but also because it encapsulates the strengths and distinction of Gary's very personal approach to wine evaluation. I almost fell off my chair laughing when he decided to classify the manure bouquet in the last wine from the 1960s in PA - guess each state and decade supposedly has vintage manures. :-)

With respect to the Domaine de la Butte Mi-Pente (pron. roughly me-punt not pen-tay) or Mid-slope, this came from a 5 hectare parcel of average age of 50 year-old vines on superior Turonian calcareous soil, covered with quartz, mica and a little clay. In typical Burgundian fashion, it is vinified and bottled separately from the releases emanating from the top (haut) and bottom/foot (pied) of the slope. I find this has something in common with Domaine Weinbach's handling of the different sections of the GC Schlossberg. All harvesting is manual and the yield is 25 hectolitres/ha. It is matured in 1/3 new oak barrels, 1/3 in barrels of one year and the rest in barrels of 2/3 two years, and was bottled, without fining or filtration, in 2007. It has cellaring potential of 20 years but should be hitting its peak in 8 to 10 years. This information was kindly provided by email from the winemaker M Blot - who was regarded in the 2008 Wine Report as the top wine maker in the Loire.

This is a true vin de garde, especially the 2005, and if you like cabernet franc, it is worth seeking out. I feel it deserves as much respect as most of the fine 2005 Bordeauxs, but costs quite a bit less.

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.

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...

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...

Gary,

Question for you. Have you ever tasted manure?

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)

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

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...?

Interesting, not had many of these wines.

Q-Not sure what i am waiting for??

QOTD - A wise man once said, "The harder I work, the luckier I am." I think that may at least partially answer your question.

that was a fascinating episode. I'd love to try some loire cab franc...

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.

loving cab franc
here is my post - better late than never! :)

http://anythingwine.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/wi...


J DUB

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.

Gary,

Just catching up now.

"it's nice to like everything"

particularly

"youthful juberance"

We love you man.

Great show gary, I love Cab franc.

Here ya go Gary

Thanks for hosting

Wine Blogging Wednesday #44 French Cabernet Franc

QOTD: Chinon La Baronnie Madeleine by Couly-Dutheil 2001. Quite funkee.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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-f...
http://reignofterroir.com/2008/04/02/how-profes...

Here's the R.O.T. links for WBW 44, http://reignofterroir.com/2008/04/01/cabernet-f... for Ken & mine's efforts, and http://reignofterroir.com/2008/04/02/how-profes... for Donna's excellent tasting interview.

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!

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

Last Cabernet Franc: in Paris! It was a Chinon recommended by a guy at the wine shop at Galleries Lafayette. I got this wine for a dinner with my Parisian friends that evening. However, myself and one of my friends were down with colds, so we weren't in good shape for tasting --nevertheless, we finished off the Chinon AND a bottle of Cotes de Castillon that they had bottled-up from the barrel when visiting family in Bordeaux this year.

The next day I met you --Gary Vaynerchuk-- in Charles de Gaulle, as we were on same flight back to NYC. Nice meeting you, man!

WBW post from my blog!

I picked up a piece of St Maure Chaput from the Honest Weight Co-op in Albany, NY last week.

This is a cheese from Quebec made from raw goat's milk and coated with vegetable ashes. I found this cheese mild and tangy. My coworkers found the cheese's smell more intense than I did.

To serve the cheese, I sliced it widthwise and separated out the ashes with a knife. I served a slice on a cracker and drizzled it with a little honey. Served plain, this cheese could pair well with a light, refreshing Chardonnay or Cabernet Franc wine.

Last night I purchased, on the good advice of my blogging friend Alex, a wedge of Taleggio Caravaggio, a washed rind cow's milk cheese from Italy.

I paired it with the rest of my dinner and a glass of 2005 Fabrice Gasnier Chinon (the first wine Gary tried), a Cabernet Franc based wine from the Loire Valley in France. The cheese is gooey and thick, and brought out the tanginess on the Cab Franc.

I also paired the Cab Franc with rice flavored with white truffle butter, steamed broccoli and sesame oil and sauteed oyster and shitake mushrooms with a dash of pepper.

The vegetal tasting broccoli with the toasty sesame oil topping and the Cabernet Franc were a great match.

The mushroomy taste of the shitake mushrooms also matched well with the Cabernet Franc.

The Cabernet Franc caught the earthy undertone of the Truffles, but the overall delicate flavor of the truffle butter was overpowered by the wine's stronger flavors.

In this Youtube video, Scott from Fox Run Vineyards in Penn Yann, NY shares food pairing tips for his winery's Cabernet Franc.

He says that steak, pizza and burgers are perfect matches for this red wine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAT4_2ovnnQ

On Twitter - Kathleenlisson

Kathleen Lisson

I've had a Chinon before and loved it, probably a Bourgueil too, but can't remember when or which one. All in all, Cab Franc = A o.k.

QOTD: The 2005 Domaine Gasnier Chinon Vieilles Vignes sells for $16.50 nearby. I'm going to get it soon. I've had other Cabernet Francs but I can't remember when, at least 2 years ago.

One from Cahors. Nice structure and pickle notes. More than I expected for $10.

gary
u kick it on video, daddyo
good on ya
keep it coming bro
mjr

LOVE LOVE the Cab Franc and now that you pointed a less expensive one out I can budget that!!! Never can get enough...last experience was with my 6 girlfriends splitting the bottle with alot of laughter!!

Have a good one!

I had a wine from the Saumur region when out to dinner a few weeks ago at Tinderbox in SF. It was great!