The Explore 4: Cabernet Franc Study

Give the gift of “Explore 4” without the commitment! SommSelect’s “Explore 4” surveys the vast landscape of wine and breaks it into small, digestible bites. Each month, we select four bottles that fit a theme, allowing members to experience a diversity of styles while developing their own palate preferences. It’s an ongoing exploration of wine through a sommelier’s eyes and there’s no more effective, and enjoyable, way to learn about wine Whenever we devote an Explore 4 to a single grape variety, our first stop is Jancis Robinson’s indispensable book, Wine Grapes. As Robinson notes, Cabernet Franc has long been eclipsed by its “progeny,” Cabernet Sauvignon (in the late 1990s, DNA analysis showed Cabernet Sauvignon to be the result of a crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc). But, as wine lovers have come to embrace the notion that “bigger” is not necessarily better, Cabernet Franc’s more herbaceous perfume and more modest proportions have won it more and more fans. Here is wha