Cabernet Franc

The Cabernet Franc is amongst the world's major dark or black grape varieties. This variety is predominently grown for blending with other varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and others. It is also used as a single variety in a number of regions - The Loire in particular where it's used to produce Chinon, rose and Saumur-Champigny. It's also used widely in California, Australia and south Africa.

WinedayUk features a fabulous range of Cabernet Franc wines, both single variety and blends but as it is a secondary or tertiary bending favourite you'll find it present in some of our other categories too. It's sometimes known as the insurance grape as it ripens earlier than cabernet sauvignon and is noted for it's hardiness.

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2006 Cabernet Franc, Le Bosc Vin De Pays De L'herault
£4.85  
2006 Cabernet Franc, Le Bosc Vin De Pays De L'heraultClassic blackcurrant aromas of Cabernet in an easy-drinking style. Ripe fruit, and bags of flavour.
Raats - Cabernet Franc 2008 75cl Bottle
£15.59  
Raats - Cabernet Franc 2008 75cl BottleA sexy, luscious Cabernet Franc that is the definition of elegance. Harmoniously integrated flavours of blackberry, black cherry and plum mingle with tobacco, cinnamon and spice. Tannins are soft and gentle on the palate, and hints of dark choclat...
Poggio Al Tesoro - 'w Dedicato A Walter' Cabernet Franc 2006 75cl Bottle
£39.29  
Poggio Al Tesoro - 'w Dedicato A Walter' Cabernet Franc 2006 75cl BottleIntense ruby red in colour, with aromas of ripe red berries blended with balsamic spice and elegant toasty notes. Exotic spicy notes with scents of ripe, red fruit follow through to the full-bodied and wellbalanced palate, with ripe, fine-grained ta...
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By means of DNA tests, the clever science bods have discovered that Cabernet Franc together with Sauvignon blanc is one of the genetic parents of the Cabernet Sauvignon variety. It also seems to be near the top of the family trees of the merlot and malbec varieties so it has definitely been a big influence in Bordeaux wines over the centuries. Not surprising then that France can lay claim to biggest plantings of this particular variety of all wine producing regions.

The variety exhibits quite high fruit and also herbal or vegetable notes and so is a common blending grape rather than a single varietal. Cabernet franc grapes are early ripeners and are often planted strategically alogside cabernet sauvignon grapes in order to make best use of it's blending advantages. It's also planetd in areas where climatic variations can prove threatening to other varieties.

Taste wise cabernet franc wine is lower in acid and more fruity (plums in particularaltough rasperry and blackcurrent are also detectable) and aromatic than cab sav and often has a marked spiciness in addition to violet aromas and colour. The vegetal flavours common with this variety include asparagus, peppers and gooseberry.

In terms of good food matches try Cabernet Franc wine with poultry, lasange and middle eastern dishes such as cous cous and lamb tagines. It's an elegant single variety wine and is now being produced as a single a lot more these days as vineyard practices have such a big influence on the final wines. The US are now growing more Cab Franc than ever before and it's also used in Romania, Hungary Canada (cabernet franc ice wine) and Australia.