Help picking a Cabernet Franc

Hi James.... indeed, the pic is of my son - Juan Francisco. He joined us on September 20th.... my wife and I are incredibly happy although we are getting little sleep these days...

On the issue of the BL Cabernet Franc... it is a very special wine, made from very old vines (90 years old). The grapes come from Finca Libertad, a vineyard that is located in the Upper Mendoza Riverbank. I understand its being exported to the USA, albeit in very limited quantities.

What reason has your wine diva given for not liking Cabernet franc? If it is that the wines are too green and herbaceous, it is unlikely that she will like many offerings from the Loire except in super ripe years like 1989, 1997 and 2003.

I agree about Baudry and also strongly recommend Yannick Amirault from Bougueil, Joguet from Chinon, Clos Rougeard (Foucault), Château de Villeneuve (Chevallier) and Château du Hureau (Vatan) from Saumur-Champigny. I also like the Chinon from Philippe Alliet, which some find too muscular and over-wooded, and the Saumur-Champigny from René-Noël Legrand, which need a lot of time and are hardly exported.

Of course, many crus in Saint-Emilion have a lot of Cab. franc in the blend and some are acknowledged world class greats for budgets which stretch that far.

Outside France I have enjoyed a Cab. franc from Warwick estate in South Africa and many years ago some from Friuli.

[James Roscoe]

Alejandro, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Welcome to the world's greatest profession, parenthood. You aren't getting any sleep now, wait for 15 years and you won't get any sleep the either and you will find out how incredibly stupid you really are.

Tim, you raise a very interesting point. Our wine diva has a good palate, and she knows her dislike of Cabernet Franc is a hole, but I don't know what it is about the wines she doesn't like. She was raised by a German mother and maybe she favors German-style wines. She loves German red wine for goodness sake!

Alejandro, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Welcome to the world's greatest profession, parenthood. You aren't getting any sleep now, wait for 15 years and you won't get any sleep the either and you will find out how incredibly stupid you really are.

Tim, you raise a very interesting point. Our wine diva has a good palate, and she knows her dislike of Cabernet Franc is a hole, but I don't know what it is about the wines she doesn't like. She was raised by a German mother and maybe she favors German-style wines. She loves German red wine for goodness sake!

I think perhaps you should buy a bottle of German Cabernet Franc.

[James Roscoe]

I think perhaps you should buy a bottle of German Cabernet Franc.

Is there such a thing? Would it be any good? I don't like painting all German reds with the same brush, but.....

Outside France I have enjoyed a Cab. franc from Warwick estate in South Africa and many years ago some from Friuli.

Indeed... Warwick does make a fine CF as I remember from my last visit to SA...

I think perhaps you should buy a bottle of German Cabernet Franc.

Is there such a thing? Would it be any good? I don't like painting all German reds with the same brush, but.....

Knipser and Minges (Theo) both grow it in the Pfalz. Never tasted one though. There's one for my list! Oh, Germany makes fine red wine James!