News — Cabernet Franc

Chinon Sweet Spot:
2021 Baudry Chinon Clos Guillot

When the Baudry family purchased Clos Guillot, they were confident that it would become their top site.

The Master of Chinon:
2020 Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée

La Croix Boissée is one of the greatest expressions of Cabernet Franc in the entire Loire.

Back Up The Truck: Loire Edition
2022 Sables Verts Saumur-Champigny Glouglou

Sables Verts' Glouglou was an instant favorite. We discovered Sables Verts earlier this year and they became a go-to for honest and very fairly priced Loire wine.

The Master of Chinon:
2021 Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux

Baudry's style is beautifully detailed, vividly transparent, and refined. We expected Baudry to thrive in the energetic 2021 vintage. The 2021 Grézeaux doesn't disappoint.

Century Old Vines
2019 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Les Mémoires

This is very much the story of old vines, ones that are over hundred years old, that dig deep into limestone.

"This is an outstanding Angélus"
2016 Château Angélus Saint Émilion Grand Cru Magnums

For the past three decades, Château Angélus has enjoyed success that’s nearly unrivaled.

Ungrafted Saumur
2017 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Franc de Pied

The Franc de Pied is based on vines that have never been grafted on to American root stock as nearly all of Europe's vines have been to escape phylloxera.

A Legendary Grézeaux In The Making:
2018 Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux

Baudry is one of our favorite producers in the entire Loire. Year after year, they craft some of the greatest expressions of Cabernet Franc.

Still, the 2018 Grézeaux is special.

The Chambolle of the Loire:
2018 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Clos de l'Echelier

Clos de l'Echelier is a very special expression of Cabernet Franc, and the 2018 vintage elevated the wine to a stunning level. Roches Neuves's 2018s are formidable. The entire lineup is powerful, deep, and sculpted with nice precision and levity. There's impressive terroir imprint amid all the power.

A Legend In Top Form:
2014 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux

Rougeard is, without a doubt, among the most aristocratic and longest-lived wines of the Loire. The wines possess depth, precision, and refinement that's without peer. Simply put, these are some of the great wines of the world.

Loire Royalty: 2014 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Clos

Clos Rougeard isn't only one of the great wines of the Loire; it's one of the great wines of the world. Rougeard is, without a doubt, among the most aristocratic and longest-lived wines of the Loire. 

In Top Form - Loire Royalty:
2015 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Clos de l'Echelier

After tasting the 2015 Clos de l'Echelier for the first time, we set out to buy as much of the wine as we could find. Last week, we opened yet another bottle, and again, it blew us away. 

Loire Royalty
2013 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg

In the Loire, the wines of Clos Rougeard are without peer when it comes to refinement and ageability. Simply put, Clos Rougeard is Loire royalty. 

Singular Cab Franc: 2017 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Clos de l'Echelier

It's rare that people compare a Cab Franc to Chambolle, but that's how people talk about l'Echelier. L'Echelier's haunting perfume, lifted brightness, and energetic minerality make the comparison an apt one. It’s a rendering of Cab Franc unlike any other.

Chinon "Grand Cru" -
2016 Baudry Chinon Clos Guillot

When the Baudry family purchased Clos Guillot, they were confident that it would become their top site. It's not difficult to grasp their reasoning. Clos Guillot sits just above Clos de L'Olive and Le Chêne Vert, two of Chinon's most renowned sites. 

Coming of Age: Chinon "Grand Cru" - 2015 Baudry Chinon Clos Guillot

Clos Guillot sits just above Clos de L'Olive and Le Chêne Vert, two of Chinon's most renowned sites. It's easy to see why the Baudry family was so excited to have purchased vineyards in Clos Guillot and why they were confident it would be their top wine.

2016 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Les Mémoires MAGNUMS

For many, Les Mémoires is Roches Neuves' top wine. There's no doubt that Les Mémoires stands as one of the Loire's grandest examples of Cabernet Franc, boasting a startling depth, sophistication and old vine complexity.

100 Year-Old Vines: 200 Cases Produced
- 2014 & 2016 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Les Mémoires

There's no doubt that Les Mémoires stands as one of the Loire's grandest examples of Cabernet Franc, boasting a startling depth, sophistication and old vine complexity. Roches Neuves is one of the Loire's elite producers.

Clos Rougeard 1993-2012

Simply put, Clos Rougeard is Loire royalty.

Singular Loire
2016 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Clos de l'Echelier

Clos de l’Echelier is a 1.8ha clos (a walled vineyard) on hard limestone soils. And from this site comes one of the singular expressions of Cabernet Franc.

Loire Elite: Old and Ungrafted Vines
- 2016 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny: Franc de Pied & Les Mémoires

Thierry Germain and his Roches Neuves firmly holds a place among the Loire's elite. The past few vintages testify to the fact that he is at the top of his game. Today, we're excited to offer two of his top Cabernet Franc's from 2016, Franc de Pied and Les Mémoires.

"Great purity, finesse and elegance" -
2014 Clau de Nell Anjou Cabernet Franc

There are some vintages that seem to have it all. 2014 in the Loire comes dangerously close to reaching this status. The wines are so complete - there's serious depth of concentration, vibrant finesse and terroir-accented verve.

Benchmark Chinon
2014 Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée

I've been waiting a long time for Baudry's 2014 Croix Boissée to be released. Croix Boissée is Baudry's top bottling. It always stands out for its refinement and age-worthiness.

100 Year-Old Vines - 0.7ha:
2013 Roches Neuves Les Mémoires

Over the past few vintages, it's become clear that things have clicked into high gear at Roches Neuves.