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Thank you for watching, Diego! As well, thank you for putting this wine on my radar! I found this Cab Franc to be quite impressive, and as you noted, it is a complete departure from anything else I've had from Argentina, which I appreciate. I am going to continue to source future vintages to follow the evolution of the project. I'm also a big fan of the packaging. I admit I have a slight bias towards wines bottled in the Loire/Burgundy style bottle... certainly not a hard and fast rule, but often when Cabernet Franc is bottled in this shape it is saying "I'm more like the Loire than Bordeaux." Not a universal thing, but just something I've noticed. Anywho, I owe you an email! I will be in touch soon. Thank you as always for watching and your kind support! ❤🙏

Thank you for watching and for your kind comment, Alex! It is a pleasure to share these stories. The world of Cabernet Franc is vast and exciting! So much to discover. Thank you again for taking the time to watch and for your support. ❤🙏

I think this is worth tracking down to taste, Gonzalo. I really appreciate the purity of this expression of Cabernet Franc. I hope I can visit one day! Thank you for watching and for your support. 🙏☺

Thank you for watching, Simón! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. To your question, like most decisions in winemaking, it is often just a personal preference. While indigenous yeast has a lot of desirable attributes, it is also a little more unpredictable to work with. So I suspect that given that this was their first vintage, and they had two amphoras to ferment, it was good reason to try both techniques. I believe most of Stratus's wines are fermented with selected yeast, so using indigenous yeast would've been a bit of a departure for them. Hope this makes sense! Thank you again for watching and for your kind support! ☺🙏❤

Hi Alex! Thank you for watching and for your kind comment.☺We are very fortunate to have many delicious examples of Cabernet Franc here in Ontario. Sadly, not much gets exported! You will have to visit some day so you can try them! 🤩 Thank you again for watching and for your kind support. ❤🙏

Thank you for watching, Jon! So happy to hear you've discovered the joys of Chinon and Loire Cabernet Franc. There is so much to discover in these appellations. Les Picasses is always a winner. If you need any other recommendations, don't hesitate to reach out. Many thanks for your enthusiasm and support!☺🙏

Thank you for your question, Jon! The choice for stainless steel is really just a personal preference for domaines like Olga Raffault. Besides being neutral, it also is doesn't allow for an exchange of oxygen, which can be helpful in preserving the youthful fruit characters in the wine. Neutral French oak, which not necessarily imparting any flavour, it does allow for an oxygen exchange, which changes the texture and profile of the wine. In the Loire Valley it is quite common to make Cabernet Franc without any oak, so just in stainless steel or concrete. I hope this helps! Thank you for watching, your question, and kind support! ☺🙏

@@cabfrancchronicles Fascinating! Thank you for your explanation!

@@Jon4670 You are most welcome! 🙂

Thank you, Jon! ☺ I spend A LOT of time doing research to prepare my videos. I also make an effort whenever possible to email the domaine or winery to get the most accurate information possible. Thank you for the kind words, for watching, and your support! ❤🙏

Hello! I don't know if the Herri Mina is distributed in Japan. I know the production is quite limited, and sadly there was no red produced in 2021 and 2022 due to frost. I don't even think it is available in France. I think it is only exported to select markets, possibly on the the US. Sorry I could not be of more help!

貴重な情報ありがとうございます☀️ 2021年と2022年は霜にやられてしまったのですね、、 2016年、2017年を数本持っているので、大切に飲んでみたいと思います！ 貴女の動画を見て色々なカベルネ・フラン試してみますね☺️

@@11154 That's excellent that you have some 2016 and 2017 in your cellar. How wonderful! I was fortunate to have tried a 2013 a couple months ago and it was delicious, and in a really great spot with 10+ years of age. There's definitely no rush with that cuvée. Thank you for watching and for your support! ☺

Thanks for watching, as always, Carl! Indeed there is a lot of exciting things happening right now in the Chilean wine scene. Forgive me, but what are "Volvo" wines? I'm not familiar with this term in reference to wines from the region.

Hi James! Thank you for your kind comment. Apologies for the delayed reply. I actually just got back from the Loire Valley and had a nice visit with Anatole at Closiers. You will love your visit, I'm sure. And a lot has transpired with the domaine since this video. It is probably one of the most exciting projects in the region. Enjoy your time there, and thank you again for taking the time to watch and comment. Cheers!

Thank you for the kind comment, Joon! I'm so glad the tasting note resonated with you. Hopefully you can track this one down. If you do, be sure to grab at least two so you can tuck one away. It has a long life ahead of it. Thank you again for watching and for your support. 🙏❤

Nice! I'm so glad you've had a chance to try this and their other Cabernet Franc. I think they are really fun wines. Thank you for watching and for your support, Carl!

Diego! My man! Thanks for watching the video! To answer your questions... Indeed Syrah is 4th most planted in Maremma and Tuscany for that matter. Good guess! It isn't ahead of Cab Franc by much though. I'm optimistic that Cab Franc will pass it one day. 😄 Question 2 - I don't have tons of experience with Tuscan wines (perhaps not surprising). So I'm not sure what the "note" is you might be getting that could signal Tuscany for you, but it is very possible it is a terroir thing. Hard to say. I would have to taste more from the region to say for certain. But if Tuscany is your jam, then I would embrace that regardless of the grape variety. ☺ Question 3 - It was a fascinating discussion with the producers about the wines I presented. The general sentiment was that many examples didn't taste "Cab Franc-y" enough, which I can appreciate. Their favourites were the Tuscan one, the example I showed from Long Island NY, and the 2 from Canada. That made me quite proud! That's so wicked you've been able to find this in Brazil. I hope you like it 😅! I'll be waiting with baited breath to hear your thoughts on it, and hopefully it gets the Diego stamp of approval. Thank you watching and for taking the time to comment! Your support is appreciated. ☺

Hi Jason! Thanks for watching and for your comment. Stylistically, Domaine des Closiers and Bernard Baudry are quite different. There are definitely wines in the Closiers range I would consider "powerful" but they present a bit more elegantly, particularly their top cuvée Trézelliers. I think there is a certain degree of precision and sophistication to the Closiers range that is notable as well. I was trying to come up with an analogy in my head, but I'm not sure of the best comparison that might resonate! If you're a fan of Baudry, I don't think you will be disappointed in anything from Closiers. The wines are really excellent. I hope this helps. If you want to email me, I'd be happy to elaborate or discuss further. cabfrancchronicles @ gmail.com ☺

Thank you, Josh! This cuvée is a winner for sure, and I think it shines exceptionally well in warmer vintages, like 2018 and 2022. I had a 2020 back in the spring and was completely enchanted with it. It is a wine I continue to seek out and I think it is particularly representative of the Ligré commune and the unique mosaic of terroirs we find there. So glad you enjoyed! Thank you again for watching and taking the time to comment! ☺

Hi Christopher! This is awesome. I think there is a lot of untapped potential here in Livermore, so I'm exciting to learn more and watch the region a bit more closely. The future is bright! Many thanks for taking the time to watch and for your support!

Thanks ​@@cabfrancchroniclesfor your reply. You might want to check out Darcie Kent's Cab France for another taste of Livermore.

@@christophermoore7011 Love this! A few other people have recommended Darcie Kent as well, so it is always nice to have a few extra endorsements. Thank you again for the suggestion, for watching and your support! 🙏☺

Thank you, Joon! I'm glad you're a fan of this cuvée. Interesting to know about TCA issues you've experienced. I don't think I've ever had a corked bottle from Domaine des Roches Neuves, but I also don't have any 2018s in my cellar. Next time I'm at the domaine, I'll inquire if they had a bad batch of corks for that vintage. It is totally possible. I've opened a couple 2019s and 2020s of La Marginale and other cuvées from the estate and haven't experienced any issues. Thank you again for watching and for taking time to comment. Your support is appreciated! 🙏☺

Thank you, Michael! What a treat you have a 2012 La Marginale in your cellar. I had a bottle of that exact vintage at Noble Rot in London last year and it was spectacular. I had it with a dish of Anjou pigeon, morels and petit pois français... Might've been one of the best things I ate and drank in 2023. I think you know by now that that wine will hold well, but if you're eager, then don't let me stop you.🙂 I think the wine was in a great place last spring. Thank you, as always, for watching and for your kind support! ❤🙏

Thanks for taking the time to watch and for your comment, Carl! Using only free run wine is a common practice for many of the top estates in the Loire Valley. If an estate chooses not to use their press wine, it is usually sent to be distilled into grape spirit.

Thank you for watching, Carl! I apologize but I'm not sure if I understand your question. The domaine's approach to extraction is infusion, which is a tea-like steeping of the skins and seeds in an effort to avoid and harsh tannins that might take longer to resolve. This cuvée also see a longer aging in larger wood and amphora, both vessels that allow for some exchange of oxygen with the wine, which would also help with the polymerization of the tannins. Hope this helps! Thank you again for watching and your support.

Hi Alison. I probably miss heard. I thought I heard you mention that the large vats were used. I need new ears. 😂😂.

@@carlcadregari7768 Hi Carl, yes, larger vats were used during the fermentation. You heard correct. I believe the lack of excessive extractions and the aging in a combination of oak barrels and amphora would've helped with the polymerization and softening of the tannins. I'm not a trained winemaker, so this is just speculation.

@@cabfrancchronicles WHEW! I wasn't looking forward to new ears! 🙂

Hi Bob - thank you for watching and for your kind comment. I apologize for the delayed reply. I didn't seem to get a notification that you had made a comment. I'm so glad you enjoyed your Avis de Vin Fort! That's a fun one from Domaine Breton. If you have a chance to try any of their 'vins de garde' I would highly recommend them. The Clos Sénéchal and Les Perrières are particularly stunning and have terrific aging potential. I've been fortunate to have tried some examples with upwards of 20 years of age. Stunning! Thank you again for watching, for your enthusiasm and support! Cheers!

@@cabfrancchronicleswill do!

Hi Carl! Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful comment. Sorry for the delayed reply. I must've missed the notification for this. This is a terrific wine, and I believe available in NY. A benchmark for the variety in Stellenbosch, and South Africa as a whole. As for your cellar, maybe it's time for some offsite storage! 🤣 Thank you as always for watching, and for your kind support! 🙏

@@cabfrancchronicles no worries at all. 😁

Cool! Bruwer has been kind enough over the years to share some of these little details. It is definitely one of the most important clones for the grape worldwide.

This is awesome! Love these recommendations. The task is trying to track the wines down, which is easier said than done. BUT, this just means I need to visit, sooner rather than later! Thank you again for these recommendations. I am compiling a list for a future visit! 🤩

@@cabfrancchronicles I'll do some digging and see what I can find out about your neck of the woods. What state are you in?

@@handrinkssolowineclub That's kind of you! I'm Canadian, living in Ontario, which makes things even more challenging from a wine procurement perspective. But, I do have a retail partner in Buffalo, New York that helps me source wines that are distributed in the US.

@@cabfrancchronicles Ha ha...I listened to your accent for a bit...thought there was a chance you were Canadian, but couldn't be sure! Apologies for that faux pas ;-)

@@handrinkssolowineclub Haha, it's all good! The Canadian vs American accent is a little tougher to discern, kinda like the Australian vs a New Zealander accent, for example. So, Canadians are used to the mix up and we take it in stride! 😉

🙏 Thank you, my friend!

Hi Alix - thank you for watching and for your kind comment. I apologize for the delayed reply. I didn't seem to get a notification of your comment. How was your first Bourgueil? If you have a chance to try the Clos Nouveau at some point, it is a stunner! Not to be missed. When I am in France I always make sure to pronounce Cabernet Franc correctly (without the c!), and in the Loire they often drop the "franc" all together and just call it Cabernet. For the channel, I cater to an English-language audience for the most part, so I anglicize the pronunciation. ;)

Hi Simon - thank you for your comment. Regarding corked bottles, I checked and the winery would absolutely replace a corked bottle if that happened. Regarding the price, I neglected to mention in the video that 50% of the value of the wine is donated to charity, and this is a core part of the mission for this wine is the philanthropic side and giving back. That said, I do appreciate that the format and price point make it not as accessible as other wines from Vineland's range.

Thank you for your comment, Bobby. Incredible that the 83 was only $5 or 6! I think aging Cabernet Franc for the long haul depends a lot on the producer, wine, and of course, vintage. But I agree that aged wine is an acquired taste. Technically all wines can age, not as many improve with age, and ultimately beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thank you, as always, for watching and for your kind support, Bobby! Cheers! ☺

Thank you for the kind words, Carl! I'm so glad that you appreciate the posts. 🙏😃

Hi Diego - I appreciate your kind words an I'm glad you liked the video. Now that I've got a bit of an archive of videos, I think I agree with you that there is merit in me starting to check in on some wines if I've got the extra bottles. So I will absolutely start to do this. Thank you, as always, for your kind feedback and support! ☺❤

Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I'm so glad you appreciated my notes. Funny, I don't think I've noted the black tea element in La Croix Boissée prior to this, but perhaps I spent a bit more time with this bottle than with others. I'll be on the hunt for that with my next encounter. Many thanks as always for watching and for your support! ❤🙏

Thank you for watching and for your kind comment! If you only have ONE remaining bottle of 2005 La Croix Boissée might I be so bold as to say HOLD this a while longer. I've had a slew of 05 Loire Cabernet Francs in the last 12 months and they are still babies. Across all appellations and producers, I haven't encountered any that I would deem as ready. If you can be patient, give this a bit more time and perhaps enjoy another bottle of Baudry Chinon while re-watching the video. ☺

@@cabfrancchronicles Thank you for your kind and sage advice! I will hold the Croix for a few more years. Maybe a bottle of 2010 Guillot instead?

@@michaelfarrell7161 Michael, don't hate me. Hold the 2010s too. 2005 and 2010 are siblings, and need a little time. I'm loving the 2009s and 2008s at the moment. I've also had some lovely 04s and 14s. While the 14s are still young, they appear to be expressing themselves nicely at the moment. I tasted an 03 Grand Mont from Domaine du Bel Air in the Loire and it was singing. ☺

@@cabfrancchronicles Lol, hate you? Nah, I know your aim is true.😉 2009s you say? I found bottles of Hureau 2009 Lisagathe and Les Fevettes. They are now in the “on deck circle”. Thanks for sharing your cab franc experience and knowledge!

@@michaelfarrell7161 Yup, 2009s! I think they are showing really well at the moment. I tasted the 2009 Château Yvonne and 2009 Grand Mont from Domaine du Bel Air in the Loire this past trip and they were magical. Lucky you to have a couple 09 Hureau! Would love to hear your thoughts on those whenever you get around to opening them. Merci, as always, for your kind support! ☺

Thank you, my friend! Etienne Bodet is certainly worth seeking out. He has better distribution than most considering the size of his production, so hopefully you'll be able to track down some bottles! Thank you again for watching and for your support! ❤🙏

Thank you, Michael, for watching and the kind words! The time flew by. I think I could've chatted with Sébastien for another hour myself! I adore Cabernet Franc rosé of all kinds and eager to get some of Baudry's 2023! The Bistro de la Place is superb, and their cellar phenomenal. Can't get enough of that spot. Now for the Les Georges 21, I think it is drinking well now but you could hold it for the medium term, for sure. The Les Georges cuvée is deceptively concentrated and structured (for the estate's "early drinking" cuvée) so you could lay it down for a bit, but I love it just the same when it's young. Maybe tuck a couple away just for kicks? Thank you again for watching and taking time to comment, Michael! ❤

Thank you, Josh! Indeed, Les Ginguettes is a terrific spot. I can't wait to go back! Thank you for taking the time to watch! ❤

Thank you, Diego! ❤🙏

My pleasure, Joon! Thank you for taking time to watch! ❤🙏

Thank you, Tom! I appreciate you watching. It was a fun exercise and I quite enjoyed it. So it is very possible there could be future interviews down the line! 😁

@@cabfrancchronicles Well, you're a very good, thoughtful and inquisitive interviewer so I think they'd be good if you do decide to do more!!

@@tomfollows5952 You are too kind, Tom. We'll see if I can queue some more up this year. 🤩

Hi Donavin! What a terrific gift for your mom for her birthday! I think Icewine is delicious whether it is enjoyed in its youth or with a bit of age. I hope she enjoys! Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to comment. ❤

Thank you, Adrian! I appreciate you taking the time to watch! 🙏❤

Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Tom! I think it is still a bit difficult to say with my limited tasting experience. In general, examples from Villány in the south are more full bodied and riper, whereas in Eger the wines tend to be fresher and have a bit more elegance. But that's a pretty sweeping generalization. I think in time as the regions become more confident with their expressions of Cabernet Franc, these sorts of regional differences might become a bit more clear. I'm very bullish on Hungarian Cabernet Franc though.🤩

Hello! Thank you for watching and for your kind words! ❤❤

Thanks for your comment, Carl. Given the diversity between soils marked with flint just within the Cabernet Franc regions of the Central Loire (Chinon, Bourgueil, St-Nicolas, Saumur-Champigny), I would reckon a guess that they aren't like what is found in Pouilly-Fumé. But you never know. This is not an area I have studied intensely. But this is a wine to seek out. If I recall, you're in the Finger Lakes-ish area, and I believe Pinnacle in Rochester stocks this. So you might be able to get your hands on it a little easier. Thanks as always for watching and for your support!

@@cabfrancchronicles thanks!! Yes, Pinnacle is my shop! Matt rocks!

Woohoo! Giddy up! @@carlcadregari7768

Always a pleasure, my friend! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. Your support is appreciated! ☺

It is my pleasure.😀 Hopefully you can find this where you are. It was really lovely.