Cabernet Franc AOC 2021

Wine Description for Cabernet Franc AOC 2021 by Clau de Nell

Colour & Appearance

Deep, nearly opaque ruby red with a black core – a colour intensity that promises concentration and maturity.

Nose

This Loire Cabernet Franc presents itself with textbook purity: blackberries and black cherries meet the varietal-specific red bell pepper. These are joined by black pepper, sorrel and a fascinating wild spice with notes of beef jerky and dried cherries. The aromatics balance masterfully between fruit intensity and cool spice – a blueprint for the variety.

Palate

Taut and sinewy with pronounced extract. The dark fruit is enveloped by silky firm tannins, which give the wine precise definition. A cool acidity provides transparency and drinking flow, whilst the ruby-gleaming fruit resonates in the mineral-driven finish. Invigorating and of remarkable elegance.

Finish

Mineral cool with lingering fruit presence and fine spice. The tannins remain present without dominating – a long, vibrant aftertaste.

Terroir & Origin

The vines are rooted in silty-clayey terroir with gravel and red flint on a tuff stone base near Ambillou-Château on the Loire. The 45 to 55-year-old vines yield concentrated grapes of extraordinary quality at modest yields of 40 hl/ha.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Biodynamic viticulture following the lunar calendar, hand-harvesting, destemming and 30-day maceration with gentle cap management. Spontaneous fermentation in 228-litre Burgundy barrels. Cellarmaster Sylvain Potin consistently prioritises naturalness and precision.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Braised lamb shanks with paprika tarhonya, grilled mackerel with paprika-walnut pesto or grilled peppers with bulgur salad. The wine’s affinity for paprika makes it the ideal companion for these dishes.

Special Features

The domaine was acquired in 2008 by the legendary Burgundian Leflaive family. All three children of Anne-Claude Leflaive work on the estate today – a success story spanning generations that brings Burgundian precision to the Loire.