I totally agree with you to said that Cab Franc is not for everybody.

Usually the first wines we like is more like kid’s flavours (sugar, vanilla, candy)…and with time we prefer aduld’s flavours in the wines…that’s wath happens to a lot of wine drinker’s. Thats my opinion.

And for the QOTD, I love Cab Franc and just open monday a nice bottle of Domaine Philippe Alliet, Chinon “vieilles vignes” 2005…SUPERB !

Took Gary’s recommendation to expand our palette so yesterday we attended tasting of Loire Valley reds (mostly cab francs) at a local wine shop yesterday.

Tasted were:
2006 Malbete, Reuilly Rouge
2005 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon Rouge, Morogues “Les Cris”
2006 Philippe Alliet, Chinon
2005 Joguet, Chinon, Varennes du Grand Clos
2005 Joguet, Chinon, Clos du Chene Vert
2005 Joguet, Chinon, Clos de la Dioterie

Our faves were the Clos du Chene Vert and Clos de la Dioterie, with Les Cris rounding out our 3 top.

Gotta agree w/ Gary’s description of the cab francs as a “Justice League of America” of funkiness.

I just drove through both the Chinon and Bourgueil areas two weeks ago and must have had a dozen of these – profound wine, and honest as they come.

I came back to watch this episode again and remembered drinking a Domaine Gasnier Chinon Cab Franc soon after. Unfortunately we all were a bit disappointed with the wine. The fruits (sort of like blackberries, but not good ones) were far too forward, and there wasn’t much in the mid-palate to balance it out. But a worthwhile try.

I recently blind tasted a 2005 Domaine Belliviere Rouge-Gorge Pineau d’Aunis (Loire Cab Franc) that absolutely blew my socks off. Brussel Sprouts, Asparagus and black pepper literally climb out of the glass, punch you in the face, steal your wallet, sleep with your woman and kick you in the gut on their way out your front door. It is absolutely awesome. I would love to see Gary review this wine.

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1036262

Re: Jeff who mentions a Pineau d’aunis.

Pineau d’aunis is a grape. That’s not a cab franc, it’s a Pineau d’aunis. It’s one of the other grapes allowed in most of the Loire apps. You can spot it because it’s a dead ringer for white pepper on the nose. By itself in it’s best expression it can have some nice sour cherry to it with all of that white pepper and floral nose. It’s an excellent food wine.

The grape is used most frequently used as a blending grape with Gamay in the Touraine (Loire app.) If you see tasting notes for a Touraine that indicate a peppery nose, you know you’ve got some Pineau d’aunis in there.

QOTD: I cant promise to buy and drink one this weekend, as I have spent WAYYYYY too much money on wine the past two months in buying vintage wines to cellar for a decade or so. Watching these last 20 episodes or so has given me the idea ( finally?!) to go to my wine shop and drop $80 or so on 5 or 6 wines from all over instead of always grabbing the $$$ stuff. I WILL buy one in the future though.

really stinky if you smell from the bottle. wish 9th ave vintners had borgeuil, but i settled on chinon. gotta just put on the overhauls and mud boots, im gonna pick some veggies. poop doesnt bother me. its fun to smell one thing and taste something totally different

Loire Valley wines (all of them) are the dogs bo**ocks my friend; i.e that’s an English term for they are great! My favourite region for wines? Quite possibly!

i am going to seek one out ! i havent had one yet . . i know i know i dunno why dont ask.

That 8 minute rant on the Bourguiel is pure genius…that shit was like performance art. This is an 18 minute video that tells you everything you ever need to know about Cab Franc. Just completely awesome episode all the way around. My fav episode so far. And its not just because Franc kicks totally ass. And the Justice League shout out was the best ever: Franc is the Green Lantern of the varietal wine world.

On the lowdown, there are actually some stellar Francs coming out of Virginia too. It is perhaps the grape variety that expresses itself best in the VA terroir. Loire is still Franc king, but don't diss the Commonwealth!

Rofl, “Makeup City”!

Have not had these wines. QOTD-too late for that.. http://www.winelx.com

You wanna know what I like about you you have one of the most dramatically good reaction to a wine that’s only 91 points. Thats more accurate than any RP score. Awesome! BTW this episode definitely shows your loyalty to us Vayneeacks! Rippin your friends wine a whole new one! But hey truth hurts and that’s you being REAL which is why I watch and continue watching. I’ll take an encore of that THUNDER any day!

Cab Franc is one of my favorites! Come visit VT soon!