If you ask me – and you effectively did, by reading this blog – Cabernet Franc is an underappreciated grape. I suppose many people might think of it first as a grape from Bordeaux, alongside its better known compatriots, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. But, done right, it can really shine on its own. Most notably in Loire wines. Which this one happens to be.
Full disclosure: This actually isn’t a new wine for me. But it hasn’t been given the full Greater Senses evaluation before, so it is past time we did so.
In the glass
Medium ruby, clear. Purple tints. It’s wine. Nice, but nothing remarkable. Oddly enough, prior to the tasting, the bottle, which is clear, was sat on my desk while I worked. Then, it looked glorious. The light streaming in through the window caught it just right, and it glittered. Well, that’s an exaggeration. It didn’t quite glitter, but it did look very, very pretty.
The nose
Oh. My. God. Or, OMG I suppose I should say / write. It has a very prominent nose. I can smell it even as I’m coravining the wine. I don’t have to stick my nose in the glass. It sort of comes up and punches me in the face. My first impression is sort of medicinal cherries. In other words – cherry throat lozenges or some such. There’s also something else there. I want to call it darker, but it’s not black fruits. Maybe it is raspberry? (Are they supposed to be a dark fruit than cherries?) Maybe it is something more leafy or vegetal, and I’m just confused. (As is often the case, it seems.)
The palate
Light to medium body. More black cherry on the palate than on the nose. Has a nice zing to it – a really good acidity that gives the whole thing a lift. A decent finish.
There are tannins, but – how do I put this? – distributed. I don’t get that classic tannin on the gums and gnawing through the tooth enamel thing. More like the feeling after drinking a glass of milk. Does that make sense? If not, it’s you, not me.
Very easy drinking.
My second tasting adds this note: Just so much flavour. That’s as good an evaluation as any. I don’t have this often. It’s maybe the third time I’ve had it. But it is a very welcome glass of wine. I’d probably have it more often if I didn’t have so many other wines to try.
Rating
Yummy-plus. Pretty on visuals. If you wanted to call it double-plus-good, I wouldn’t get too cross with you. Excellent on its own, or with food. I’d tell you what I paired it with, but I don’t remember. Hey, that was two whole days ago.
Sustainability
Biodynamic, wild ferment, no added sulphur.
The technical info
13%, Cabernet Franc, £19.99 King Street Cellar
Other stuff
Yet another wine name I can’t spell on the first, or even second, try.