Cabernet franc

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Dang
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2016 12:23 pm

Cabernet franc

Post by Dang »

Unusual wines were blind tested in our club latest meeting. The subject: Cabernet Franc (CF) around the world. Al wines tested are either 100% CF or have at least 80% CF in the blend. There were no Aussie available. Any straight CF that you know of?
There were some researches in the end of the century with DNA test, which led to the conclusion by Jancis Robinson that Cab Sauvignon is actually the offspring of CF and Sauvignon Blanc union. So expect dark fruit and grassy flavour!
The line up:
(1) '08 Larkin CF, Napa Valley, USA
(2) '10 Morlet Force de la Nature, Napa Valley, USA
(3) '15 Mabileau Les Petits Grains, Loire Valley, France
(4) '11 Le Dome, Saint-Emilion, France (80% CF, 20% Merlot)
(5) '11 Zorzal Piantao, Mendoza, Argentina (mainly CF, maybe Syrah, Malbec etc)
(6) '09 Aleanna Gran Enemigo Gualtallary, Mendoza, Argentina (unknown blend)
(7) '08 Tenuta di Biserno Biserno, Tuscany, Italy (mostly CF with dollops of CS, Merlot and Petit Verdot)
(8) '01 Le Macchiole Paleo, Tuscany, Italy (mostly CF)
(9) '09 Poplar Grove CF, BC, Canada
My head is still spinning around, but here are some notes:
(1) The wines vary in price from CAD 40 to CAD 260 with three above 180!
(2) Colours vary from ruby red to dark ruby red, so it was not possible to guess the age
(3) Nose is very similar ( dark fruits, spice, smoke, pencil, forest) except for the young Mabileau which overhelms you with sweet cherry (young punk!) and the Tenuta and the Larkin grasp you with lovely mocha and expresso.
(4) All palates show expressive fruit and spice flavour, medium to full body but the tannins are still very aggressive in all, including the '01.
(5) WOTN turned out to be a big discussion. In the end, the most expensive Morlet was chosen (just!) for its long palate. The Canadian did well, but had an austere palate, methinks.
Since this was a blind tasting, everybody got a good surprise at the end.

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dave vino
Posts: 1505
Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 6:23 pm

Re: Cabernet franc

Post by dave vino »

Woodlands would probably be the obvious one. Not that easy to get though. Brash Higgins does one.

Lots out there, but no real serious ones like the Woodlands from memory.

Raymo
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri May 29, 2015 12:30 pm

Re: Cabernet franc

Post by Raymo »

Blue Poles Reserve Cabernet Franc (Margaret River, WA)

Willard
Posts: 244
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:47 am
Location: Brisbane

Re: Cabernet franc

Post by Willard »

Terre a Terre make a straight CF, from Wrattonbully.
wills.wines

via collins
Posts: 727
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:16 pm

Re: Cabernet franc

Post by via collins »

Blue Poles now making a straight CF.

It's brilliant too.

Ian S
Posts: 2696
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2003 3:21 am
Location: Norwich, England

Re: Cabernet franc

Post by Ian S »

Best's do a really enjoyable Cab Franc, though I doubt it sees wide release (somehow some landed over here, so I snaffled 2-3 bottles). At the opposite end of the scale to the 'dreadnought' wines and all the better for it

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