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

Interesting, not had many of these wines.

Q-Not sure what i am waiting for??

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…?

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

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)

Gary,

Question for you. Have you ever tasted manure?

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…

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…

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.

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.

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.

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 😉

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.

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.

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

How come Mott doesn’t always link it up?

The way Mott said “sniffy sniff” that 2nd time is easily my favorite Mott moment ever.
Qotd: A Chinon I had at a tasting recently, a real garden will real distinct bell pepper notes