2019 Yannick Amirault Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Malgagnes, France, Loire, Wine Review

In a recent tasting of Loire reds, this was the run away winner. 100% Cabernet Franc. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, slight cedary notes and chalk. Silky texture. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, the black cherry fruit comes thru with some underlying chalk. Deep. Light tannins. Long finish. Delicious. This is nice on its own and would work nicely with grilled meats or roasted veggies. It may still improve a bit but should drink well for another eight to twelve years.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2019

Current Price:

$39.00USD

Rosé du Loire? Mais oui! Cabernet Franc’s Lighter Shade

The Bay Area is experiencing an unseasonable hot spell. And here, like most places suffering under the unrelenting rays of our nearest star, rosé is king. But not just any rosé. Survey the bottles of blush pinch-hitting for rouge in wine enthusiasts’ lineups these days, and you’ll find a predominance of wine from Southern France . And rightly so – no region does rosé better than the appellations bordering the sun-lit Cote d’Azur. But Provence is not the only show in town. Other regions, not only in France but also in Spain, Germany, and Italy, produce delightful examples of warm weather’s red-substitute.

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Life is Like a Mixed Case of Loire Cabernet Franc (or, A Wild Night at Solano Cellars)

If you’re looking for a wild night, grab a few bottles of Loire Cabernet Franc, call a couple of friends, and swing by your local wine shop. I kid you not. My wife and I did this very thing yesterday evening, and it proved to be one crazy ride. For the normal among us – those who prefer to spend their evenings at the theater, clubs, house parties, or sporting events – a Cabernet Franc tasting may not sound terribly entertaining.

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2003 Yannick Amirault Bourgueil La Coudraye, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage:

2003

Score:

Grade:

A-

This is a Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. 2003 was an extremely hot vintage and also the vintage where Benoit came home to work the vineyards with his father Yannick. This is fully mature and maybe a bit past for some bottles and depending how you like you wine. Deep ruby in color. The nose has black cherries, slight tobacco, dust and slight spice. Medium bodied. Tannins fully resolved. On the palate, black cherries over a cigar box quality. Good acidity. Nice finish. This should be consumed in the next three to five years. It goes well with roast or casseroles.

Borgueil: The Unpronounceable, Unforgettable King of Cabernet Franc

When I think of wine that is interesting, unique, obscure, high-value, and small-production, I think of Borgueil – the small wine region in France’s Loire Valley that produces almost exclusively Cabernet Franc.

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2010 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Les Galichets, Loire, France, Wine Review

Vintage:

2010

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$30.00USD

This a very nice value in Cabernet Franc made from biodynamically grown grapes. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is nice. 2010 was a warmer vintage and that matters for Cab Franc. If under ripe, it can be a bit green. Very nice black cherry fruit along with some cigar tobacco. On the palate, this has a nice texture. The black cherry fruit carries thru. Good acidity. There is some forest floor which is nice. This begs for food and worked well with middle eastern fare. Good finish. Drinking well now but should cruise thru the next ten years.

2019 Yannick Amirault Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Malgagnes, France, Loire, Wine Review

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Rosé du Loire? Mais oui! Cabernet Franc’s Lighter Shade

Life is Like a Mixed Case of Loire Cabernet Franc (or, A Wild Night at Solano Cellars)

2003 Yannick Amirault Bourgueil La Coudraye, France, Loire, Wine Review

Borgueil: The Unpronounceable, Unforgettable King of Cabernet Franc

2010 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Les Galichets, Loire, France, Wine Review