Let’s celebrate Cabernet Franc
December 4th is International Cabernet Franc Day and a great opportunity to focus on an understated and often disgracefully overlooked classic varietal that produces aromatic, graceful, elegant red wines.
Often eclipsed by its much-loved offspring, Cabernet Sauvignon, this ancient grape makes finessed wines in its own right. As the world raises a glass, Westgarth Wines looks at this varietal’s story and showcases five Cabernet Franc wines worthy of a December wine celebration!
Why does Cabernet Franc deserve the spotlight?
Cabernet Franc history offers a fascinating insight into the journey of this classic red. It’s often thought that Cabernet Franc originated in the Loire Valley. This is an understandable misconception thanks to the range of fine Cabernet Franc that hails from this northern France region today and its status as the region’s flagship black grape. However, its roots are traced to southwestern France. First appearing in official records in Bordeaux in the 1600s, DNA evidence suggests that it had existed in this area for even longer. In fact, grape genetic records indicate that Cabernet Franc is around 900 years old, with recorded cultivation only beginning in the 17th century. The Loire connection? It reportedly arrived there soon afterwards with Cardinal Richelieu (Chief Minister to King Louis XIII), where it has flourished since.
Today, in addition to being cultivated in France, Cabernet Franc has emerged as an important varietal in Tuscany, California, Argentina, and South Africa. Cooler regions tease out a fresh, herbal character, while warmer areas showcase ripe fruit and spice.
Prestigious pedigree
Not only was Cabernet Franc admired by the likes of Richelieu, but it is the co-parent, with Sauvignon Blanc, of the world-famous Cabernet Sauvignon, predating the world’s most popular black grape by centuries.
It’s also a parent to Merlot and Carménère, making it a foundational grape for modern Left and Right Bank winemaking in the esteemed Bordeaux region, and for these styles beyond French shores.
What are Cabernet Franc characteristics?
Thin-skinned and early ripening, Cabernet Franc’s key features are:
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Color: Medium ruby to deep garnet
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Body: Light to full-bodied depending on the region
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Aromas and flavors: Red berry, dark fruit, violet, graphite, green bell pepper, herb, spice, and earthy notes
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Tannins: Fine-grained
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Texture: Silky and elegant
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Style range: Crisp and herbal in cool climates to ripe and fruity in warm regions
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Aging potential: Finest labels can cellar for decades
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Food pairings: Roasted poultry, herby lamb, grilled vegetables, tomato-based dishes, mushroom dishes, tangy goat cheese, and soft cheeses
Featured wines
Tempted your taste buds? We’ve handpicked five top-tier examples of Old World wines and New World Cabernet Franc for an exciting tasting as we celebrate this versatile red.
Clos Rougeard, Saumur-Champigny, “Le Bourg” 2010
Starting in the region that made Cabernet Franc famous, Clos Rougeard is an iconic Loire Valley estate in Saumur-Champigny, renowned for its biodynamic Cabernet Franc wines. Amongst the finest in the world, this house’s wines boast purity, depth, and excellent cellaring potential. Its 2010 Saumur-Champigny “Le Bourg” displays layers of black raspberry, kirsch, boysenberry, redcurrant, espresso, and dark chocolate in a rich, toasty, smoky palate framed by cedar and a hint of cinnamon. This full-bodied Cabernet Franc, hailing from a one-hectare plot planted in 1948, is one of the most elegant red wines from the region, promising decades of evolution, yet youthful enough to enjoy now.
Bibi Graetz, Balocchi No. 7 Cabernet Franc 2021
Moving on to Italy, where Cabernet Franc is proving itself with finessed, complex reds, Tuscan estate Bibi Graetz, is celebrated for crafting expressive wines from indigenous Italian old-vine fruit. In a departure from this tradition, the house produces a critically acclaimed, limited-production Cabernet Franc featuring fresh red and purple fruit, violet, and dark chocolate in a refined, well-balanced medium-bodied palate with gentle tannins and subtle earthy notes closing to a long finish.
Jonata, El Alma de Jonata Cabernet Franc 2012
Our Cabernet Franc journey takes us to the New World on California’s Central Coast, where Jonata Wines, an acclaimed Santa Ynez Valley estate, produces bold, terroir-driven wines that speak of painstaking care in the vineyard and a spirit of innovation. The 2012 Cabernet Franc-driven blend is aged in 80% new French oak resulting in a full-bodied wine with elegant layers of fruit, violet, tobacco leaf, granite, and firm tannins. This Cabernet Franc has impressive cellaring capacity but the freshness to enjoy now.
Paul Hobbs, Nathan Coombs Estate Cabernet Franc 2016
Paul Hobbs, Nathan Coombs Estate is a distinguished Napa Valley vineyard known for crafting expressive, terroir-driven Cabernet Sauvignon under the guidance of eminent winemaker Paul Hobbs. The house also produces an outstanding Cabernet Franc; this red offers complex layers of kirsch, dark cherry, dried herb, menthol, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, and marinated olive in a medium to full-bodied, textured palate with subtle minerality, polished, grainy tannins, and a long, savory finish. This 2016 is a fine example of a California Cabernet Franc that illustrates the adaptability of this grape and how it expresses the terroir of its locale, wherever it is in the world.
El Enemigo (Aleanna), Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2013
We can’t explore this varietal without a stop in Argentina’s Mendoza region, where illustrious boutique winery El Enemigo has made a name for itself as a leading producer of elegant, terroir-driven, high-altitude Cabernet Franc. This 2013 comes from the renowned Gualtallary site in Tupungato, located 4,822 feet above sea level on deep, calcareous, rocky soils. Fermented with wild yeast and aged for 15 months partly in foudre, barrel, and tank, this Cabernet Franc with a splash of Malbec, offers a densely-packed, lively palate of delicately sweet, dark berry with peppery notes and rich minerality. A seamless palate leads to a long, structured, powerful finish.
So, as December 4th arrives, join the world in a celebration of Cabernet Franc, a timeless grape with quiet grace, versatility, and complexity. From the Loire’s iconic elegance to Argentina’s high-altitude styles, it’s easy to see why this noble varietal captures the hearts of winemakers and wine connoisseurs around the world.
Happy Cabernet Franc Day!
Feature photo: Paul Hobbs Winery
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