Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is a black grape that makes fresh, medium-bodied red wines with flavours of red cherry, raspberry, and sometimes a violet-like perfume. It is famous in France’s Loire Valley, where it is often the main grape, and it is also used in Bordeaux blends to add fragrance and freshness.

What it tastes like

Most common flavours:

• red cherry
• raspberry / redcurrant
• violet / floral notes
• sometimes a leafy/herbal note

If it is not fully ripe, Cabernet Franc can taste:

• green or leafy
• like green pepper

How it compares (simple)

• Usually lighter and fresher than Cabernet Sauvignon
• Often more floral and more red-fruited
• Generally medium tannin, not heavy or thick

Where it’s grown

Loire Valley (France)

This is the classic home of Cabernet Franc:

• Chinon
• Bourgueil
• Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
• Saumur-Champigny

These wines are often fresh and food-friendly, and some can age very well.

Bordeaux (France)

Cabernet Franc is used in blends with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, especially on the Right Bank, where it helps add:

• perfume
• freshness
• structure

Other places

Cabernet Franc is also made in parts of Italy and North America, often doing well in places that are cooler than classic Cabernet Sauvignon areas.

Why it can taste “green”

Cabernet Franc ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, but it still needs enough warmth and sunlight to fully ripen. If picked too early or grown in shaded vineyards, it can keep herbal flavours.

Winemakers manage this by:

• controlling yields (not overcropping)
• keeping good airflow in the canopy
• choosing the right harvest date

Common wine styles

• Loire-style: fresh, red-fruited, medium-bodied, sometimes lightly herbal
• Bordeaux-blend style: richer and smoother, often with some oak
• Varietal modern style: fruitier, sometimes more oak, still usually fresher than Cabernet Sauvignon

What to try

• A Loire Cabernet Franc (e.g., Chinon) for the classic fresh style
• A Bordeaux blend where Cabernet Franc is important for the perfume and structure
• A riper New World Cabernet Franc to see the fruitier version

Summary

Cabernet Franc makes red wines that are fresh, fragrant, and easy to pair with food. It can be beautifully floral and red-fruited when ripe, but can taste green if harvested too early or grown in shaded sites. It is most famous in the Loire Valley and is also an important blending grape in Bordeaux-style wines.