Clos Rougeard, from the Loire Valley, makes reference point Cabernet Franc. It’s simply out of this world. The Cabernet Franc is not like the Cabernet Franc from St. Emilion in Bordeaux, where it’s blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. There, it has more weight and drinks more like a Cabernet Sauvignon. In Chinon, in the Loire Valley, the Cabernet Franc is lighter, more savory, and more floral. Admittedly, Cabernet Franc from Chinon can be too thin and denuded of its fruit. But in the hands of certain winemakers and viticulturists, the wine can be a quintessential expression of Cabernet Franc. This is what Clos Rougeard does. It’s from where we draw our inspiration.
The bulk of our Cabernet Franc comes from Weinbau Vineyard located within the Wahluke Slope AVA. It’s a great site for Cabernet Franc. Because the heat accumulation at Weinbau is closer to Bordeaux than Chinon (average Growing Degree Days for Weinbau is about 3000, for Bordeaux it is around 2600, and for Chinon it is around 2000), our Cabernet Franc tends to be more like Bordeaux in structure. But, we try to coax out of it the savory complexity and the floral characteristics that are the hallmarks of Cabernet Franc (much like great Chinon). And we do a damn good job. It’s no wonder that its one of our best sellers.
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