Comments on: Speaking Francly: the polarizing grape sparks debate

By: A tasting of hipster wines | Dr Vino's wine blog

A tasting of hipster wines | Dr Vino's wine blog — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:41:23 +0000

[...] Moving to the reds, hipster love of the Loire continues, as I decided to include a value wine in the form of the Domaine Guion, Bourgeuil, Cuvée Prestige, 2009 ($14). Cabernet franc usually shows well for the uninitiated in warmer vintages and this one convinced most people while others found it to be green. What can you do? It’s a polarizing grape. [...]

By: Trevor Dusi

Trevor Dusi — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:46:47 +0000

I am a red wine lover, so of course there will always be a place in my heart for Cabernet Franc. If I had to compare it to an actor…I would probably say Pauly Shore. He never gets old, and can be considered a little fruity.

By: Produttori, Pinon, Ridge, Luzon – popular wine picks from class | Dr Vino's wine blog

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:01:51 +0000

[...] Guion, Cuvee Prestige, Bourgeuil, 2006 (about $12): After our discussion online about cabernet franc, the polarizing grape, I had to add this wine to the following lineup. All but four people really liked it (about 90% of [...]

By: John Skupny

John Skupny — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:55:58 +0000

Let’s be sure to include in ‘Related Grapes’ Sauvignon blanc which as one of the progenitors of that later day Cabernet [Sauvignon],shares the name with it’s other parent, Cabernet Franc [you know - a one night stand out in the field about 400 to 500 years ago, supposedly in Bordeaux!]… Genetically it all makes sense, doesn’t it?.. The original/first Cabernet [Franc] is the one that marched from Mesopotamia [referrenced by Pliny] to Eastern Europe, then Western Europe and then to the new world… with much more adaptability than its progeny… and as a very ancient variety, a bit more delicate in presentation, but not it’s ability to grow and ripen in a wider band than thay child….

By: GregT

GregT — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:38:20 +0000

Hmm, so the idea is that for some people cab franc is always and forever the same wherever it’s grown? I actually like it, but I also like it in its various forms, whether Chinon or from Walla Walla or Napa or Lake Balaton or Kincaid. When it doesn’t get enough sun it does have a lot of bell pepper notes, a trait it shares with related grapes like merlot and cabernet sauvignon, but with adequate sun those notes can be reduced or even eliminated. Which is the “real” cab franc? The one with the bright red cherry flavors or the one with the bell-pepper and herb flavors?

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:52:14 +0000

It seems I’m very late to this party. I love Cab Franc, but I’m not so partisan as to suggest that it’s always good. The funny thing is, neither is Pinot Noir. The fact that great Pinot must be expensive to be great make it special. Yet for Cab Franc, it makes it inferior. Why is that?

The reality with inexpensive Franc is that it is a gamble in the $10-$20 range. You may find something brilliant, you may find something rather green. If you know your producers and vintages, though, your odds improve significantly. Even a wine that’s too vegetal instead of sublimely earthy won’t bankrupt you, hoewever. Good producers in good vintages make great wines rarely for more than $30. They aren’t fruit bombs or hedonistic oak juice. Just well-made wine, ripe yet expressive of varietal and terroir.

I had a nicely aged Cali Cab Franc that was simply exploding with cigar box aromas. It was heavenly. I’m not a smoker, either. Some people just like tobacco in their wine. Most like jam and vanilla, however.

By: Jim Budd

Jim Budd — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:24:15 +0000

I’m delighted that there are people who detest Loire Cabernet Franc as it helps to keep the price down. Ausone and Cheval Blanc have a majority of Cabernet Franc and look at the price of these wines.

I gather there are also some poor souls who detest Chenin Blanc.

By: ben

ben — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:28:21 +0000

BY the by- as an unsigned artist (I assume he was talking about music) I’d love more people to download me to their ipods!
Cab Franc is fun stuff, but for really geeky perhaps mondeuse?? Savignin, or Bracul?
Cheers,
Ben
(unabashed wine geek- though they still have to taste good!)

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:27:19 +0000

Smashing article, Beppi! I say! Yes, yes, really good show old boy! I always knew you were one of us. I can spot a Claret man a mile away and you sir are a Claret man. The way you turned the tables on these preposterous wine geeks and made them the snobs for once! All I can say is it’s about time. I’m sure that a Chinon can serve its purpose – if you’re desperate or in a bistro which is the same thing as far as I’m concerned. O Beppi you certainly know how to call a spade a spade. Let’s face it – it’s a ghastly little wine! Let’s repair to my club and toast this splendid moment with a fine Claret. Good man well met.

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:40:44 +0000

After this discussion, I *had* to pour the Domaine Guion, Cuvee Prestige, 2006 for my NYU class last night. I poured it blind. Before I told them anything about the wine, all but four of them (out of 33) said that they liked it. Cab franc lovers! I should have asked them if they had any unsigned artists on their iPods…

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:15:54 +0000

Re Patrick Fegan’s note re Michigan CFs: Brys Estate, Two Lads, Peninsula Cellars and 45 North all released wonderful ’07 Cab Francs this year. I bought a few bottles from each this summer.I would say, though, that ’07 was a particularly good year for most northern Michigan grapes. In less-stellar vintages, Michigan CF tends to have, to my palate anyway, an unpleasant ashtray-like finish on its own, but has blended well with Michigan Merlot.

By: Gerry Dawes

Gerry Dawes — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:53:43 +0000

And John Skupny knows what he is talking about on this theme. John,I am coming to Napa and want to drink some Cab Franc with you. Un abrazo fuerte, Gerry

By: John Skupny

John Skupny — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:32:37 +0000

With no disrespect levied to Mr. Molesworthy, here is what I posted as a responce to Mr. Beppi missive about Cabernet Franc,
“At first,I wanted to scold Beppi for starting a nice and sort of complimentary article on Cabernet Franc with the same old playbook – that Franc is some destitute, insipid, uninspiring wine that disappoints him, and therefore anyone else, on a regular basis – then I remembered all the thousands of people who really like variety and adventure in their lives, many of whom like and drink Cabernet Franc on a regular basis and whom I never detect being wine snobs. This is perhaps due to the fact that Cabernet Franc is a people’s wine and not a wine reviewers wine. It is becoming more widely grown both in Canada and the US because it is able to ripen in places that many other vinifera grapes cannot. So in spite of Beppi’s proclamations and disappointments, Cabernet Franc’s popularity may rise from it’s grass roots beginning and shine brighter than it did in Miles’ paper cup at the hamburger stand!”

By: OhioWineGuy

OhioWineGuy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:41:02 +0000

Cabernet Franc is my favorite varietal because it is food friendly and can be pleasantly imbibed by itself after a long day. When done well as it is by Seth Meranda of Meranda-Nixon Winery, Greg Pollmann, winemaker at Valley Vineyards, or Ron Barrett at Kinkead Ridge Winery all in the Ohio River Valley there is no comparison. We have the mineral soil, rain in the spring, warm summers, and the fruit generally can hang into October for maturity and the right touch of the winemakers to make it very approachable here. Yes, it is used as a blending wine like Merlot and Petit Verdot, but that doesn’t make it a bad choice.

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:39:10 +0000

@Amy…hah, I don’t like bell peppers either, and yet adore that nervy quality you describe in cab francs. I actually find that many carmeneres have that green pepper quality.