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Cabernet Franc is a red wine grape primarily grown in the Bordeaux and Loire Valley regions of France.
Cabernet Franc is best known as one of the five favorite grapes blended in most red wines of Bordeaux, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Cabernet Franc produces less tannins and color than Cabernet Sauvignon, its historical neighbor of Bordeaux which was genetically proved to be the result of its breeding with Sauvignon Blanc.
edit Aromas
This grape distinguishes itself by its aromatic finesse and its unique green pepper aromas. Depending on growing region and the style of wine, additional aromas can include tobacco, raspberry, and cassis, sometimes even violets.
Cabernet Franc is eligible for a long ageing --however not as much as Cabernet Sauvignon -- during which it will develop subtle fleshy aromas.
Wines made of Cabernet Franc as a main varietal are usually well-balanced with soft tannins and acidity. They offer generous fruit aromas such as raspberry and violet.
Cabernet Franc is most often blended with other varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its sensitive nature makes it difficult for vintners to successfully create a 100% Cabernet Franc wine, except for small portions of Loire Valley such as Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur where it thrives to create some of the greatest and most unique red wines of France.
edit Regions
Cabernet Franc is thought to have originated in Bordeaux, and is widely planted in the region. It has long been part of the typical red Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot, usually representing 10 to 20% of the blend.
It is also the traditional main component of certain red wines of Loire Valley, such as Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur. These are some of the rare places in the world where Cabernet Franc is successfully used as a single varietal.
Besides the prestigious wines of Bordeaux and Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc is widely planted in Southwestern France and Languedoc-Roussillon, to be blended in red or Rosé wines. It is also added to various desert wines produced around Bordeaux, such as Pineau des Charentes.
Elsewhere in Europe, Cabernet Franc is grown in Italy (mostly Friul), Spain, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Russia.
In the New World, it can be found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, California, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
In Australia, it mostly grows in the cool climates of North East Victoria, the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley.
In Canada, it is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to add tannins and complexity. It is also used to produce ice wine.
In California, Cabernet Franc is used by vintners looking to replicate Bordeaux wines. It's predominantly planted in Napa Valley and Sonoma. Elsewhere in the U.S., it is planted in the cooler areas of Long Island and Finger Lakes in New York, as well as Michigan, Virginia and Washington.
edit Viticulture
A very fragile grape with an unpredictable behavior, Cabernet Franc requires much care and caution. Even when it's properly harvested and handled, Cabernet Franc can bring both the best and the worst of wines.
Ripening 8 to 10 days earlier than its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc is sensible to diseases and requires constant attention, especially during the weeks prior to harvest time.
The vine is vigorous and upright, with dark-green, 5-lobed leaves. The winged bunches are elongate and small-medium in size. The small berries are quite small and blue-black in colour, with fairly thin skins, smaller and more spaced than those of Cabernet Sauvignon. This makes them particularly sensible to rain and other climate variations.
edit Other names
- Achéria
- Arrouya pro parte
- Bidure
- Boubet
- Bouchet
- Bouchy
- Breton
- Cabernet Blanc
- Cabernet d'Aunis
- Cabernet Franco
- Cabernet Frank
- Cabernet Gris
- Capbreton Rouge
- Carbenet
- Carbouet
- Carmenet
- Couahort pro parte
- Gamay de Ricenay
- Gros Bouchet
- Gros Cabernet
- Grosse Vidure
- Kaberne
- Kaberne Frank
- Messanges Rouge
- Noir Dur
- Petite Vigne Dure
- Plant Breton
- Plant de l'Abbé Breton
- Plant des Sables
- Trouchet Noir
- Véron
- Véronais
