The World of Cabernet Franc

Stone Paddock Cabernet Franc is an outstanding red made by Paritua, one of Hawke's Bay's top producers of reds modelled on the best of Bordeaux. This gorgeous ripe Cabernet Franc is full of fragrant red fruity aromas and flavours of redcurrants, raspberries and spice, held together with supple tannins which dance across the mid palate of this wine. 

It's made from grapes planted on free draining red metal soils of the Paritua vineyard, an organically farmed single vineyard in the Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District of Hawke?s Bay. Vines here are managed with an open canopy to provide good airflow and exposure to sunlight, which aids ripening for this classic Bordeaux red grape variety. 

The wine was matured in seasoned French oak for 12 months followed by blending, fining and filtering just prior to bottling.

If you have ever wondered why an actor you?ve always admired seems to be perpetually cast in supporting roles and never lands the lead, it will be easy to relate to Cabernet Franc. One could argue that this seductive classic red could lord it over both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is a parent of both of these better known grape varieties, but Franc tends to hang around the edges, adding its personality when needed with colour, depth and spice but rarely vying to be star. And yet, when it is allowed to shine, here is a grape and a wine to adore.

Very deep purple Cabernet Franc made from 35 to 50 year old vines, which express a beautiful clarity of ripe red fruit and lifted aromatics. Great structure and fine tannins that ride over the palate to a long finish. Impressive now and can age.

Juicy smooth blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec in a bold and powerful red made by Hawke's Bay winemaker Jenny Dobson, whose extensive winemaking experience in Bordeaux and Hawke's Bay shines through in this fleshy flavoursome wine. 

Doris was named after her grandmother, Doris and this is the first vintage of this medium bodied, dry and fleshy wine, which has flavours of red plum, red fruit and lightly toasted spice. 

A very special Cabernet Franc from arguably the most respected winery in Chinon AC, an appellation in the Loire Valley, France. This great red offers red berry freshness and flavours of bright bold cherries, held in a smooth, drink-me-now wine with impressive structure that can see it age well for seven to eight years, if you can resist the urge to drink it sooner. 

Olga Raffault was founded by Olga and her husband Pierre, who worked the estate together until he died unexpectedly in 1947. Olga ran the business with the assistance of employee Ernest Zenninger, a German prisoner who became the winemaker and working closely with Olga?s son Jean Raffault, who has now taken over the winemaking.

Olga Raffault is a winery with a cult following and reputation for high quality Chenin Blancs and Cabernet Francs.

Plush, smooth and full of ripe red plum flavours, this wine is made with grapes grown a vineyard formed on the ancient riverbed of a river that once carried rock from the steep Ruahine ranges and deposited masses of free-draining gravel which is locally known as red metal. This is a plush wine from a very good vintage and punches well above its weight. Juicy ripe berry flavours from the Merlot are balanced by grunty darker earthy elements from the Franc.

Impressively juicy Cabernet Franc from Hawke's Bay winemaker Jenny Dobson, who has extensive experience making wine from this great grape in Bordeaux, France. She applies her knowledge and winemaking skills of wild yeast, whole bunches in the ferment and foot plunging (her own feet) to coax the best from this full bodied, deep purple Cabernet Franc.

It's named after her aunt Francie and made as a tribute to her. 

Dobson describes this wine has tasting of red roses, spicy raspberries and scented velvet. 

Exceptional half bottle of deliciousness from an unlikely corner of the country, Matakana, which is one of the smallest wine regions in New Zealand and situated north of Auckland. This wine is made by Toby Gillman, who fell in love with the idea of making wine after he spent his first student allowance on a bottle of Matakana red. 

He and his father John volunteered to work at the iconic Providence vineyard in Matakana on weekends, and later set up their own vineyard, which is home to the Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec grapes that go into this little half bottle of deliciousness. 

We really enjoyed tasting the concentrated cassis and blackcurrant flavours in this six year old red, which is an outstanding wine to drink now, and has further potential for aging. Its weight, richness of flavour and big but smooth tannins all show impeccable balance for a high quality red based on a classic Bordeaux right bank style.

The 2018 Grand Amateur Merchant is a fresh, cool climate red made exclusively from one of Hawkes Bays most exciting Cabernet Franc vineyards - The Howell Family Vineyard. In the tradition of the finest barrel aged Loire Cabernet Francs where Sam worked for 6 years, this fresh, elegant and perfumed red will reward patient wine lovers for 8-9 years from the vintage. Blueberries, raspberries, Damson plums, dried thyme and background cedar notes from oak ageing.

Stunning Cabernet Franc from Argentina, showing another string to this powerful South American red wine bow - dark blackcurrant and ripe black plum aromas are followed by the fleshy appeal of a lush palate texture and long finish. 

A great wine for drinking now and also to age for eight to nine years and beyond...

APPELLATION: DHC - Villany wine region

SOIL: dolomite, marl, limestone or occasionally sandy loess

HARVEST: Lots of sunshine and the right amount of rainfall ..

GRAP VARIETIES: Cabernet Franc

WINEMAKING:
HUNGARIAN OAK: 63% aged for 24 months
HUNGARIAN BARRIQUE: 37% aged for 24 months

ORGANOLEPTIC SPECIFICATION
A darker shade of ruby. The nose is of a slightly Mediterranean character, rich in spices, forest fruits and discreet oaky notes. On the palate, dominating fruity characters with some toasty notes, which contribute to the richness of flavours in the wine. This is a wine full of flavours with a long aftertaste. Taste it with pleasure!

TECHNICAL DATA
ALCOHOL:14%
ACIDITY: 4.9 g/l

Violets, spice, chocolate and damson plum saturate the nose whilst the palate is rich and opulent giving loads of dark red fruits. The tannins give the wine plenty of structure, also providing longevity for many years to come. Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Franc at its peak. Drink now until 2030.

Dark, smooth, velvety and full bodied and made from hand picked Cabernet Franc grapes grown on some of the oldest vines in Hawke's Bay. The grapes in this wine were grown on the TK vineyard, beside Oak Estate in the Bridge Pa Triangle sub region of the Bay. Grapes were fermented with indigenous yeasts made specifically from the vineyard to ferment this wine, which expresses Cabernet Franc's juicy dark fruit flavours with refreshing nerve and acidity. It was aged in older oak barrels for seven months with no new oak and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. 

58% Cabernet Sauvignon,  29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc

Savoury and spicy, good complexity, with ripe blackcurrant and plum flavours. Good tannin support.