{"id":2416,"date":"2016-12-04T15:34:10","date_gmt":"2016-12-04T21:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecorkscrewconcierge.com\/?p=2416"},"modified":"2017-07-07T16:07:54","modified_gmt":"2017-07-07T21:07:54","slug":"2416","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecorkscrewconcierge.com\/2016\/12\/2416\/","title":{"rendered":"Toasting Cabernet Franc Day 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"
Cabernet Franc Day is upon us again. Every December 4 we celebrate (and you should if you don’t) this oft neglected and forgotten variety. Yes, we know Cabernet Sauvignon is king, but if that’s all you’re drinking, you are missing out. Most people don’t know that without Cabernet Franc we wouldn’t even have Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon is the offspring of Cabernet Franc that resulted when Cabernet Franc had a torrid affair and was crossed with Sauvignon Blanc.<\/p>\n
And while it’s blended so often with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for those Bordeaux blends that we all love so much, there are places around the world where it stands alone. Chinon (which I love) in France’s Loire Valley is one such example where Cabernet Franc is bottled as a varietal wine as well as the eastern United States, particularly Virginia. I also had some fantastic Cabernet Franc on a recent trip to Croatia<\/a>. Cabernet Franc is known for its red fruit aromas such as strawberry, raspberry, and cranberry in addition to its very characteristic vegetal bell pepper aromas. It also tends to have a great deal of acidity which makes it quite food friendly and a versatile pairing partner. What I love so much about Cabernet Franc is that it is usually approachable much earlier than a great deal of Cabernet Sauvignon due to its softer tannins. And since patience is not one of my better virtues, it works for me.<\/p>\n For this year’s celebration, I thought I’d focus on the Americas and open bottles from both the northern and southern hemispheres.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First up was the 2014 Cabernet Franc from Dracaena Wines<\/a> from Paso Robles, California.<\/p>\n