2020 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot, France, Loire, Wine Review

This is 100% Cabernet Franc. Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has some Brettanomyces coming off as slight barnyard. It has an "old school" Chinon quality to it. Also some black cherries. On the palate, the black cherries come thru (not the barnyard). It does taste mature despite being relatively young. Most likely that is the Brett. This will work better with food such as stew or chili. Drink over the next seven to ten years.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2020

Current Price:

$34.00USD

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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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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2019 Jean Montbray Chinon, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage:

2020

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$15.00USD

This is 100% old school Cabernet Franc from the Loire valley in France. Coming in at 12.5% ABV, this is a classic Loire Red wine. Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and mostly bright. The nose has black cherries, tobacco, some bell pepper, slight "twigs and sticks". Medium bodied. Nice acidity. On the palate, this drinks easy but needs some food. Some black cherry fruit with plenty of forest floor and tobacco. A bit of green bell pepper. Moderate finish. This would work well with lamb stew. Drink over the next five to seven years.

2005 Charles Joguet Chinon Franc de Pied Les Varennes du Grand Clos, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Score:

Grade:

From one of the top red producers in the Loire Valley. 2005 was a strong vintage and allowed the Cabernet Franc to get ripe. This was a great showing for this wine. It was identifiable as the Loire with everything good about it. Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is great. Earthy, slight barnyard, cherries, slight black cherries and an interesting clove note. With air, a fresh tobacco note comes out. On the palate, this is soft. A nicely layered and complex texture. Layers of cherries, slight black cherries, fresh hay and slight earthiness. There are still lig

2020 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot, 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)

Borgueil: The Unpronounceable, Unforgettable King of Cabernet Franc

2019 Jean Montbray Chinon, France, Loire, Wine Review

2005 Charles Joguet Chinon Franc de Pied Les Varennes du Grand Clos, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review