Region: Loire, France (Chinon)
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc
Tasting Notes: Beautiful garnet color. The nose is slightly green, with wafts of smokey tobacco, and liquorice balanced by vanilla and blueberry aromas. This wine has a savory taste of wet wood, dark fruit, chocolate and light spice. Although the flavor is lush the mouthfeel remains light, resulting in a pleasant well-balance cabernet franc that will pair well with many fall dishes.
Pairing: This cabernet franc pairs well with braised meats, roast chicken, and game hens, sharp fetas and bleu cheeses as well as tangy bries. This Spice-Rubbed Braised Brisket by Susan Spungen would be a perfect fit!
About: Relegated to moderate obscurity in modern times, Cabernet Franc is in fact the proud parent of the attention-hogging Cabernet Sauvignon (after an illicit affair with Sauvignon Blanc a hundred-odd years ago). Cabernet Franc has remained close to its roots in France, enjoying small pockets of popularity primarily in the Loire Valley (specifically in Chinon), where it is often bottled as a varietal wine, and in Bordeaux where it is still used in moderate percentages in the typical blends. Generally speaking, the grape tends to yield medium-bodied wines with solid structure. The tannins and acidity are typically softer than one finds in its offspring (Cabernet Sauvignon), though the two bear many similar traits. Oft-cited fruit notes range from raspberry to currant, and the wines are almost always marked by a distinct herbaceousness that can run the gamut from extremely green and vegetal to riper, warmer notes of sage and mint.
The Domaine de l'R is fairly new, it was founded by Frédéric Sigonneau in 2007, and it is already counted by Chinon amateurs among the ones where cabernet franc shines. This La Familia cuvée comes from vines owned by his Frédéric’s cousin - he shares the same green philosophy. Sure, you can drink this young but there's plenty of reason to believe that it will be fine too in 5 years.
Tasting Notes: Beautiful garnet color. The nose is slightly green, with wafts of smokey tobacco, and liquorice balanced by vanilla and blueberry aromas. This wine has a savory taste of wet wood, dark fruit, chocolate and light spice. Although the flavor is lush the mouthfeel remains light, resulting in a pleasant well-balance cabernet franc that will pair well with many fall dishes.
