Cabernet Franc is one of the most popular red grape varieties on the planet. It is believed that his first vines were brought by Cardinal Richelieu to the Loire Valley in the XVII century.
They were landed in an abbey on the territory of Bourgogne, where the abbot Breton looked after the vineyards. Later, with the surname of this monk, they began to associate this variety.
According to the second version, grapes were brought from Spain to France by pilgrims returning home from Santiago de Compostela.
Cabernet Franc at the beginning of the XVIII century began to grow in all of France. The main plantings of this variety were in Pomrol, Saint-Emilion, Fronsac and many other regions of the country. But from about the middle of the XIX century, winemakers of the Left Bank gradually began to replace the planting with the “relative” of the variety - Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemakers believed that he was much more promising. Cabernet Franc on the Right Bank also “lost” his position after the phylloxera epidemic that happened at the beginning of the 20th century: vineyards preferred planting then free cultivars with Merlot, which was also preferred.
At the same time, Cabernet Franc became widespread. Currently, vineyards of this variety are available in many developed countries - in Hungary, Italy, China, Canada, Bulgaria, Spain, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Ukraine and other countries.
Grade Features
Cabernet Franc is a medium-late-ripening technical red grape variety. It is a vigorous bushes that have rounded five-lobed large leaves with the edges significantly bent down. The clusters are cylindrical in medium size. The berries are round, medium with very juicy pulp and fairly dense skin. The color is saturated black with an intense waxy coating.
Cabernet Franc is very reminiscent of Cabernet Sauvignon, while under equal growing conditions it ripens a whole week earlier than Sauvignon. Due to this, in Bordeaux, its landing is a certain “insurance policy" if the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest is affected.
The variety perfectly takes root on various soils, while it best manifests itself on chalky soils.
It is mainly used for the production of Bordeaux style wines, in other words, it is used in blends with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. But in some regions of France and Italy they create high-quality wines from the Cabernet Franc variety. Among them are Paleo Rosso from Le Macchiole, Cabernet Franc from Valentino Butussi.
From Cabernet Franc, the wine is lighter, aromatic, not as powerful as from Cabernet Sauvignon. In the bouquet of such wines you can catch light notes of raspberry leaves, currants, violets, nuances of gravel and light vegetable tones. In a mixture with Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter gives the wines completeness, roundness, additional shades of fruit. This variety enriches wines from Merlot with tannins, and also increases the duration of their aging.
Many winemakers in the New World sometimes deliberately delay the harvest of grapes so that the shades of green foliage that are heard in the wine are minimized, therefore, they have a rich fruity taste.
Other names of this variety: Carmenet, Breton, Gros-Bouchet, Bouchet, Veron, Gros-Vidure, Noir-Dur, Bouchy, Trouchet Noir, Messanges Rouge, Cabernet Franco, Cabernet Aunis, etc.
Geography of growth
It is one of the twenty grape varieties that are most widely distributed in the wine-growing regions of the whole planet. The largest number of vineyards is located in cool European regions. At the moment, Cabernet Franc occupies about 45,000 hectares of vineyards, of which 36,000 are located in France.
France
Vineyards are used to create excellent Bordeaux blends, while playing a secondary role. Mostly common in the Loire Valley - here they make red wines and pink subregional appellations from Cabernet Franc, as well as in Bordeaux (Saint-Emilion, Pomrol, Fronsac). It produces light wines with fairly non-aggressive tannins. Usually they are served chilled to 15 °. In the assembly of these appellations, the Cabernet Franc share is more than 50%, its properties are especially pronounced in the wines of the Chateau Cheval Blanc.
In 2000, the variety was the sixth on the list in all of France by planted area.
Italy
In Italy, at the beginning of 2000, there were about 7,000 hectares occupied under the plantings of Cabernet Franc. Since this variety is often confused with Carmener and Cabernet Sauvignon, the true size of the plantings is not known exactly.
Cabernet Franc in the north-east of the country has been cultivated since the beginning of the XIX century. On the label, the word Cabernet indicates that the wine is made from this particular variety. Produced drinks in the regions of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia and Veneto are distinguished by rich color, aromas of red and black berries, saturated mineral tones and fairly high acidity. It should also be noted that recently the number of areas occupied by this variety in Tuscany, in Maremma and Bolgeri in particular, has increased.
Other countries
This variety is becoming increasingly popular in Canada, in the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, British Columbia. Mostly used in blends, although more and more monosorte wines have been made from it recently.
In the United States, California winemakers, who produce excellent Bordeaux blends, show interest in Cabernet Franc. The largest plantings of this variety are located in the Sonoma and Napa Valley. The wines from the variety, aged in oak, demonstrate the depth of taste, as well as excellent potential for aging.
In addition, Cabernet Franc drinks are produced in Israel, New Zealand, Croatia, Australia, Chile and South Africa.
Now consider the most popular drinks in our country made from this grape variety.
Pink wine "Fanagoria", Cabernet Franc
The wine is a deep pink color with a rich aroma of red berries, subtly accentuated with shades of champagne, made from grapes of this variety grown in the wine region of Fanagoria in their own vineyards by the method of single fermentation of wort in acratophore. The drink is characterized by a fresh berry taste and a creamy long aftertaste, goes well with main dishes and all kinds of snacks. The most gourmet appetizers are almonds. Judging by the reviews, sparkling wine is served as a digestif with fruits, desserts, cream ice cream, and various sweets. The feed temperature is 6-8 ° C.
Jean-Pierre Moueix Bordeaux
It is also a wine from Cabernet Franc. Reviews say that it is a deep ruby-colored drink with aromas of tobacco, strawberries and fresh cherries. Intense and rich in taste with a long finish and silky tannins.
Grapes are supplied by several landowners on the basis of lengthy contracts. Cabernet Franc and Merlot, which are part of the composition, are grown on soils that contain clay, sand and gravel. Perfectly complement poultry, various mushroom snacks.
"Raevskoy Renaissance"
We continue to consider the red wines of Cabernet Franc. Reviews of this drink suggest that it has a dark garnet color with light ruby hues. Bright aroma with notes of black berries, ripe juicy fruits, tobacco leaf, spices and skin. Taste powerful with tannins structures, as well as shades of violet and black currant. The finish is quite powerful with bright fruity notes.
It is worth noting that the Raevsky vineyards are located in the very place where the first steps of domestic winemaking were once made - on the hills that are adjacent to the very village of Raevskaya, which received the name of the famous fort. A breeze from the Black Sea provides a significant difference between day and night temperatures, which is necessary for optimal ripening of the variety. Soils are sod-carbonate, clay-limestone. The total area of the farm is 148 hectares.
Judging by the reviews, the wine goes well with bright sauces, meat dishes, barbecue, seasoned cheeses.
Chateau vieux lartigue
This semi-sweet wine from Cabernet Franc has a ruby red hue with pleasant aromas of strawberry jam, plum and black berries, as well as a woody tone. Elegant in taste, round and medium-bodied, with hints of berries, vanilla and silky tannins in the aftertaste.
It goes well with grilled pork and beef, seasoned cheeses, game and a rack of lamb.
Sassicaia
The wine is ruby red in deep color. In its rich, rich aroma reveals shades of black currant, as well as other dark berries, light notes of spices, minerals and lavender. Full-bodied, juicy and harmonious wine with a well-defined structure and notes of cedar and currant in taste. Reviews say that this drink is the perfect combination of grace and power. Serve with various game dishes and seasoned cheeses.
Chateau potensac
Saturated ruby red color with light violet highlights. A complex bouquet where tones of red and black currants, cherries, cedar and strawberry liquor, notes of cocoa beans and chocolate glaze are fully revealed. Perfectly balanced medium-bodied with well-palpable tannins, wonderfully inscribed in the structure, and a long fruity aftertaste, where shades of spices and herbs are clearly audible.
Vineyards are located on an area of 84 hectares on gravel and alluvial soils with a low content of red clay. The average age of the vines is 35 years. Reviews say that this wine goes well with grilled meat.