Cabernet Franc AOC 2018 – Clau de Nell

Wine information

The vines of the cabernet franc are 45 to 55 years old. The vines stand in loamy silty soil on sandstone as well as in red flint on tuffeau (limestone).

The yield is 40 hl/ha. The grapes were harvested by hand in 12-kilo crates. They were destemmed and fermented over 30 days with only infrequent pumping over. They were then aged for twelve months on the fine lees in Burgundian Pièces from five to seven years. The cuvée then matured again for half a year in the piece barrel.

Color

intense purple

Nose

The 2018 cabernet franc of Clau de Nell combines its origin with the typical maturity of the vintage. On the one hand, there is still the robust and down-to-earth that you only find in Cabernet Franc today in the Loire, on the other hand, all this is packed into a wonderful creaminess and maturity. There are lots of blackberries, black cherries and cassis here, almost concentrated like a liqueur, but then fanning out and seeming fresh with hints of cool stone and light tobacco. Rounded off by a few dates, licorice and garrigue.

Palate

On the palate, the Cabernet shows warmth and ripeness, but at the same time a wonderfully firm, grippy tannin, some cool raps, a lean, ripe but present acidity and a lively minerality. The dark fruit is accompanied by a sun-dappled forest floor, tobacco and cedar. A charming Cabernet Franc with a hedonistic fruit fullness and inner density, at the same time full of vitality.