Cabernet Franc
A medium-bodied black grape of raspberry and a leafy green edge, and the principal red grape of Chinon and Bourgueil in the Loire.
At a glance
- Raspberry
- Leafy edge
- Medium tannin
Recognize it
Medium body and medium tannin with red fruit leading black fruit. Raspberry, red currant and leafy or bell-pepper notes are common. Green character is usually more noticeable in cooler sites or vintages.
Detail
Cabernet Franc is important as both a varietal wine and a blending grape. In Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny it commonly makes fragrant, medium-bodied reds; in Bordeaux it is usually blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its leafy character comes from methoxypyrazines, the same family of compounds associated with green notes in Cabernet Sauvignon.
Similar grapes
Merlot
Similar medium body and plum or red fruit.
Difference Merlot is rounder and fuller; Cabernet Franc is leafier and more floral.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Similar cassis and leafy notes.
Difference Cabernet Sauvignon is darker, fuller and much more tannic.
Explore
Wines made from Cabernet Franc
- Saint-Émilion
- Médoc
- Pomerol
- Pauillac
- Chinon
- Bourgueil
- Saumur-Champigny
- Bordeaux Supérieur
- Irouléguy
- Lalande-de-Pomerol
- Bordeaux Rosé
- Crémant de Loire
- Montagne-Saint-Émilion
- Canon-Fronsac