“To Be Franc” $26
Pépière "La Pépiè"
the place
Loire, France
the grapes
Cabernet Franc
the process
Only three of Pépière's 43 certifed-organic hectares of vines are planted to black grapes: Côt and Cabernet Franc (known locally as Breton). They are in the 10-hectare "home" vineyard in Clisson, where the rocky, granite-rich soils yield top-tier Melon de Bourgogne; the black grapes are in a section with a gentle slope and southwestern exposure. As with the Côt, the Cabernet Franc is harvested by hand, destemmed and crushed, with only the free-run juice used for the wine. It is fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, followed by around five months of aging in stainless steel. The wine is classified as a Vin de Pays de la Loire, as there is no allowance for red wine in the Muscadet AOC.
the price
Bottle: $23 | Glass: $10
Ampeleia
the place
IGT Toscano Rosso, Italy
the grapes
Cabernet Franc
the process
Ampeleia represents the beginning, the pride and excellence of our estate, which it takes its name from. We have grown together with it and thanks to it. Its essence comes from Cabernet Franc, a sensitive grape variety that is difficult to work with and only shows its qualities in the right soil. This is one thing we are sure of: Roccatederighi and Cabernet Franc have a rare synergy, capable of expressing the full potential of both. Here Cabernet tastes of Roccatederighi. In 2002 this synergy resulted in Ampeleia. Coming from vineyards scattered around the estate, on the clay-limestone soil on which Roccatederighi was built, it has evolved through time: although its soul has always been Cabernet Franc, it was only in 2015 that it left behind the other varieties to express its purity.
the price
Bottle: $57 | Glass: $25
Chateau du Petit Thouars “Les Georges”
the place
Chinon, France
the grapes
Cabernet Franc
the process
Les Georges wines are all about the freshness and flavour of the aromas. These summer wines elaborated from the "vin de goutte" (free run juice) are matured up to 6 months in stainless steel tanks. These wines are good to drink now but can be kept 3 to 5 years.
the price
Bottle: $27 | Glass: $12
Square, Plumb, & Level
the place
Dry Creek Valley, California
the grapes
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Cabernet Franc
the process
We chose Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Bradford Mountain for its gentle minerality, spicy cedar notes and young tannin. As Cabs tend to be produced today, we ensure the final product is not overextracted or over-oaked. On the flip side, Cabernet Franc is rarely seen as a blending grape and only truly embraced in France; this piqued our interest. Our Cab Franc displays notes of dark plum and tobacco with a mildly spicy finish. Best decanted if you wish to consume now, or cellared and consumed 10 years from now. SPL is best paired with medium to hearty meats and game, grilled veggies, and ragout dishes
the price
Bottle: $33 | Glass: $14