#471 100 Grapes - Cabernet Franc

I wrote about Cabernet Franc last year, so I won't go over the whole thing again, but I did try a trio of wines made with the grape to tick off another one in the 100 grapes list.  I tried a trio of wines from the grapes homeland, the Loire.


2009 Chateau de Villeneuve Saumur Champigny

Delicious cherry and green peppers coming out, quite sweet on the nose with some floral elements that are very pretty.  The palate has a nice earthy flavour, some liquorice and a little confected cherry coming out, but it is calmed by a burnt beef flavour, and a bitter note all the way to the finish.  Not the best example of this grape that I have tried, but nice.  84pts

2010 Yannick Amirault Bourgueil La Coudraye

Lots of veggies - green chillies and bell peppers.  Then you get a cherry note - almost cherry coke - coming through with a meat fat aroma.  Fuller bodied, some rounder riper fruit with less meatier elements.  A nice spice coming out and then it calms, balances out with some subtle chilli on the finish.  A rather nice wine.  88pts

2009 Domaine Ratron Saumur Champigny Clos des Cordeliers

Lovely brussels sprouts in a field of hay with some brambles coming off.  The palate has more vegetal elements coming through with a little bit of soft cranberry.  There is a lots of dark earthier flavours coming through with a little bit of tobacco.  Rather tasty but a bit thin on the end.  89pts