Cabernet Franc

Cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon, together with merlot, petit verdot and malbec, are the main grape varieties that are the basis for the production of the great Bordeaux reds. When we talk about the “Bordeaux blend”, we refer to a blend of these noble grapes, which have been cultivated in the Medoc region for centuries. Cabernet franc is one of the oldest red berried varieties. The analysis of its DNA has revealed that it is a grape originating from the Basque region, on the border between France and Spain, born from a spontaneous cross between two old grapes of the area: the morenoa and the hondarribi beltza. Through a series of other crossings, cabernet franc then generated the main Bordeaux grapes that we know today as cabernet sauvignon, merlot and carmenère. Even if its presence has become a bit marginal, it is to be considered the true father of the great Bordeaux reds. In France, it is also cultivated with excellent results in the Loire Valley, especially in the areas of Anjou, Saumurois and Touraine. In Italy, it is widespread above all in the Triveneto, where in the past it was often confused with the carmenère.

The wine has an intense ruby red color with aromas of small red fruit and typical vegetal notes. It has a good structure, with important tannins and good acidity, all characteristics that favor its excellent aging. Both cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon, thanks to their structure and intensity, at the table pair very well with second courses of roasted red meats, grilled, stewed or with feathered and furred game.