A Cabernet Franc Affair

2011 Arbor Crest Sauvignon Blanc 100% Sauvignon Blanc Bacchus Vineyard, Columbia Valley Optimum Consumption through 2016 Sugar – 23.5 Brix pH ABV - 13% 2500 Cases Fermented & Aged in Stainless Mielke Family Winemaker Kristina van Löben Sels

2011 Arbor Crest Sauvignon Blanc In March 1982 – The First Wine Sold from Arbor Crest was Sauvignon Blanc from the Bacchus Vineyard Bacchus Vineyard – North and Slightly East of Richland, WA

Once Upon a Time, In the 18 th Century…

In the Libournais…

The Story of Two Grapes… Cabernet Franc Sauvignon Blanc

It was Spring… Flowering Grapes

The Grapes were Harvested

The wines were Made…

The Pomace Returned to the Vineyard…

The New Grapevine Grew & Grew…

And They Lived Happily Ever After You Learn Something New Every Day…. Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc Fun Facts Compared to Cabernet Sauvignon – Usually Lighter Pigments – Stronger Aromas – Lighter Tannins – Lower Acidity Aromas – Raspberry, Cherry, Licorice, Currant, Bell Pepper, Tobacco Flavors – Red Fruit, Blue Fruit, Plum Pairs with – Lamb, Pizza, Roast Duck, Lasagne

Cabernet Franc Fun Facts Grown Primarily for Blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux Style But can be Vinified Alone Buds and Ripens ~ 1 Week Earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon – Allows Vines to Thrive in Slightly Cooler Climates such as the Loire Valley One of the 20 Most-Planted Grape Varieties Worldwide – Approximately 36,000 Hectares (~89,000 Acres) Yield Sensitive – Overcropping Produces Wines with more Green or Vegetal Notes

Chinon AOC, Loire Valley Reds- Cab Franc Up to 10% Cab Sauv White- Chenin Blanc Mostly red 2-5% Rose Chinon and Bourgueil heart of Cab Franc in the Loire Cab Franc originated in the Loire, 17 th Century

2014 Jean-Maurice Raffault Chinon Rose From 10 ha sandy and gravelly soils Rose from 2/3 press juice, 1/3 saignee juice Cool fermentation from indigenous yeast Finished with some residual sugar

Jean-Maurice Raffault Rodolph e Rives Loire et Vienne

A Note About French Wine Law Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) System Translates to “Controlled Designation of Origin” Assures that Wine (and other Foods, like Cheese) comes from Specifiied Regions and Adhere to Specific Quality Standards Everything Changed in 2012 What was once Four Categories is Now Three VDQS (Vin Délimité de Qualité Supériure Eliminated Only about 0.9% of Wines Fell into this Category Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP – Protected Designation of Origin) Basically Replaces AOC Wines from Specific Areas, Made with Specified Grapes and Specific Winemaking Methods Indication Géographique Protégée Basically Replaces Vin de Pays Regions are Specific, but Subject to Less Restrictive Regulations The Wine has to be Submitted for Analysis and Tasting Vin de France Basically Replaces Vin de Table Only Requires Name of Producer, and Designated as Being From France Now Allows Variety and Vintage on the Label Labels are “In Transition” – Temporary Confusion

Bourgueil AOC

Loire Valley Primarily Grows Cabernet Franc Continental Climate with Maritime Influences

Domaine Les Pins Cuvée les Rochettes, 2012, Bourgueil (AOP)

Family-Owned Estate for 5 Generations 100% Cabernet Franc Vines Between 10 and 35 Years Old Mechanical Harvest –Grapes Destemmed and Sorted –After a Few Days of Maceration, Fermentation Starts Naturally –Light Pneumatic Pressing after a Minimum of 17 Days of Vatting –Wine Aged in Concrete for a Minimum of 10 Months Ruby Color, Floral Red Berry Nose, Long Lasting Tannins 91 Points – Wine Enthusiast

Languedoc

Bernard Alias Cabernet Franc, 2013, Vin de Pays d’Oc 30 Hectoliter per Hectare – 1.7 Tons per Acre 100% Cab Franc Cold Fermentation with Daily Punching Down, Aged in Barrels for 4 Months Red Berries and Vanilla Scents Long Finish, with Flavors of Mocha, Caramel and Licorice

Snake River AVA Arena Vineyard Martin Family Vineyard Many Varieties

Snake River Winery 786 West Broad Street, Boise Scott DeSeelhorst Wine Press Northwest “2013 Idaho winery of the Year”

Snake River Winery 2011 Cabernet Franc Fairly warm climate Riper, New World Style Aromas & Flavors Concentrated raspberry Brown sugar Tobacco leaf Dried herbs Bright acidity

Sierra Foothills AVA Ironstone Vineyards First vines planted 1856 by Swiss immigrant in Amador Co. Historic Zinfandel Elevations 1200’- 3500’ Warm climate- some cooling through Carquinez Strait and from mountains

Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA Calaveras County Amphitheatre Wine Caves 44 lb Gold Leaf Specimen

2010 Ironstone Cabernet Franc Tasting notes Blue fruit Blackberry Considerable tannin Reserve- extended maceration Hay Station Ranch vineyard Aging- 18 months in small French & American oak barrels Residual Sugar 0.19 Alcohol 14.5%

Wines Purchased at Pilgrims Arbor Crest Sauvignon Blanc $ Jean-Maurice Raffault Chinon $ Domaine Les Pins Bourgueil, Cuvee des Rochettes $ Bernard Alias Cabernet Franc, Vin de Pays d’Oc $ Snake River Cabernet Franc, Arena Valley Vineyard $ Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Estate Reserve $18

Next Month Cadaretta & Buried Cane Wines of Washington Presented by the Winemaker