Cabernet Franc is considered royalty in the French wine family. A unique dark blend that scratches an itch that no other wine quite does, it can be vinified as a single wine or used as a mixer with other prestigious French wines.
What Is Cabernet Franc?
Cabernet has been described as the parent wine of both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is because it’s made from one of the major black grape varieties and is principally grown for blending with a Sauvignon or Merlot, though it can also be enjoyed on its own.
The wine is dark and gives off beautiful raspberry, bell pepper, and bramble aromas.
Where Does Cabernet Franc Come From?
The name pretty much tells all when it comes to wines and where they are from, and so it’s not difficult to figure out that Cab Franc is a decadent French wine that is vinified on the slopes of beautiful Bordeaux, more specifically from the Loire Valley.
How Is Cabernet Franc Made?
Cabernet Franc is an extremely versatile grape, and it can be used to make a variety of different wines including a classic Bordeaux, a Rose’ and a Sauvignon to name a few. The wine is a lot more forgiving than that of a Sauvignon.
The grape has thin skin and is light in colour even though the wine itself comes out as a dark blend. The grape ripens fully in cooler climates and comes to fruition about a week faster than a Sauvignon would.
The fermentation period is slightly faster than most wines and after vinification, it can be bottled and opened to robust fruity and woody aromas.
What Does Cabernet Franc Taste Like?
The taste of a Cab Franc is similar to the aromas the wine gives off and experts have all found the same types of flavours emanating from the blend. The consensus is that the wine gives of fruity flavours with cherry, strawberry, and plum some of the common experiences.
More left-field experts have experienced hints of green pepper, olives and tobacco which lends to the description of the wine as a robust and rustic experience.
Is Cabernet Franc Sweet or Dry?
A Franc is a hardy wine that is often decidedly paired with a sweeter wine to bring about a rich and full flavour that combines the best of both worlds.
Cab Franc wine is often blended with a Sauvignon or a Rose’ which are both more on the sweet, rather than the dry side of wines.
Is A Franc Heavy Or Light?
A cabernet franc is neither heavy nor light and it can range between the two depending on the fermentation process, the blend, and the classification of the wine. Generally, a Franc is described as a medium-bodied wine that lies a little more on the heavy side of the scale.
How To Drink Cabernet Franc
Unlike a Cabernet Sauvignon a Franc is ideal for warm weather and it has been described as the perfect chillable red. Therefore, these wines are best served cold and can be paired with a large variety of gorgeous summer cuisines.
It’s the perfect candidate for refrigeration and drinking when you’re feeling uncomfortably warm. But other than weather this wine can be enjoyed if you’re looking for a rustic experience with hints of fruitiness and sweetness.
Which Foods Pair Well With A Cabernet Franc?
A Cabernet Franc is a medium-bodied wine which means that on a liquid scale you could go from feeling watery tinges when drinking the wine to experiencing a full creamy body at the same time. It’s not too heavy and it’s not too light and it comes with a dryness that pairs well with a lot different foods.
Goats Cheese
Goat’s cheese is a particularly creamy type of cheese. A Cab Franc wine brings a dry, acidic, and medium body that compliments the savoury creaminess of this delicious dairy product. If you’re ever drinking a wine be sure to crack out the cheese board!
Olives
Once again, a food that can be placed on a cheese board to create the perfect food and wine pairing. Olives compliment a Franc beautifully due to, once again, their saltiness and creaminess. Olives often splits opinion and are often fairly difficult to find a good pairing for. If you’re a fan of olives a Franc might be the perfect wine for you!
Lamb
Every red wine needs to have the right meat with which to enjoy a decadent dinner. Lamb is perfect for a Cabernet F ranc, as well as a beautiful Merlot. The two wines can be blended to make the perfect combination. Next time you’re cooking up, or ordering a delicious, creamy lamb dish be sure that you have a Franc on hand.
Is Cabernet Franc Expensive?
In the wine buying industry, it is important to note that every single wine bottle comes with different qualities and characteristics. So, depending on the bottle you buy prices will vary heavily. The most expensive bottles can range up to $400+.
What Is A Cabernet Franc Most Like?
A Cabernet Franc is a unique wine in that it is most often blended with other wines to create the perfect experience. Alone it is most comparable to a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot.
The differences between a Sauvignon and a Franc are subtle with the latter coming from a thinner-skinned grape. A Franc has been described as lighter, more rustic, and fruitier than a Sauvignon.
Is Cabernet Franc A Good Wine?
Cabernet Franc is a rather obscure and not often talked about wine but experts cannot sing the praises of the blend more positively. It has been described as a mouth-watering pepper-like flavoured experience that will take you right to the vineyards of France. It is perfectly paired with lamb and cheese. So in short, the answer is oui. Cab Franc is a great wine, and you should give it a try (with lamb and cheese preferably!).