Cabernet Franc: A Winemaker’s Secret Weapon
The Cabernet Franc grape may be less famous than Cabernet Sauvignon, but the importance of its role in some of the world’s greatest red blends is impossible to overstate. In Bordeaux’s Left Bank, it typically adds herbal and tobacco notes to Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends, and on the Right Bank, especially St.-Emilion, Cabernet Franc often plays the starring role. It also is used to produce some of the most profound wines in the Loire Valley, and in regions from California to Argentina, it sings.
What is Cabernet Franc?
Cab Franc, as it’s often referred to, is a red grape variety that is excellent both vinified on its own into Cabernet Franc wine and blended with other grape varieties in some of the world’s greatest red blends.
Where are Cabernet Franc grapes grown?
Cabernet Franc grapes are often associated with both the Right Bank of Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, both in France. However, Cabernet Franc excels in Napa—where even wines labeled as Cabernet Sauvignon often have a bit of Cabernet Franc in the blend—Australia, high-altitude vineyards in Argentina, Chile, Washington State, and beyond. New York State and Virginia are sweet spots for Cabernet Franc, too, as is Canada. It is not just versatile, but also amenable to growing in a range of micro-climates.
What does Cabernet Franc taste like?
Cabernet Franc can express itself differently depending on whether it’s grown in a cooler or warmer climate. In general, however, it boasts brambly berries, herbs, tobacco, and spice. Cooler-climate Cab Franc tends to express more “green” characteristics, and warmer-climate Cab Franc is generally more about the ripe berry fruit.
What is the difference between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc?
Interestingly, they are closely related: Cabernet Sauvignon is essentially the offspring grape variety that resulted from a natural crossing between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. So you could legitimately say that Cab Franc is one of the two parents of Cabernet Sauvignon! In terms of flavor, Cab Franc tends to show more green, herbal characteristics alongside its brambly berries, whereas Cabernet Sauvignon, though it often does have sage-like notes, especially when grown in cooler climates, tends to be more about currants, cassis, graphite, and cedar.
Is Cabernet Franc like Pinot Noir?
Not really. Pinot Noir is generally a lighter-bodied wine with finer-grained tannins and higher acidity, whereas Cab Franc is more tannic. Also, their flavor profiles are quite different, with Pinot Noir finding its proverbial footing on the cherries-flowers-earth end of the spectrum, with more delicate tannins and a greater amount of acidity for structure, and Cabernet Franc is more about the brambly berries, tobacco, and spice.
Is Cabernet Franc a dry or sweet wine?
Cabernet Franc is almost always produced in a dry style, though riper vintages will likely possess more pronounced brambly berry notes. Still, those berry flavors will almost always be dry. One key exception: Canadian ice wine is often produced from Cabernet Franc grapes, and it’s one of the greatest sweet wines in the world. You also can find Cab Franc ice wine in other regions, too.
What food goes best with Cabernet Franc?
Cabernet Franc pairs well with many of the same foods as Cabernet Sauvignon: Steak and lamb are classics, as is charcuterie. However, given the herbal nature of many Cab Francs, it pairs particularly well with meats that have some sort of herb component to their seasoning or sauce.
What are some of the most popular producers of Cabernet Franc?
There are many excellent producers of Cabernet Franc, including Mascota Vineyards (Winery Direct), Beaucanon Estate (Winery Direct), Sheridan Vineyards (Winery Direct), Justin Vineyards (Winery Direct), Chappellet, Inniskillin, Darioush, Jackson Triggs, Peju, Catena, and Santa Julia.
Browse our full selection of Cabernet Franc online or check out our selection of highly rated Cabernet Franc for a great new Cabernet Franc to try this week!
Want to learn more about Cabernet Franc?
Visit our Guide to Cabernet Franc to learn more about Cabernet Franc.
