DOMAINE LAROQUE Cite De Carcassonne CABERNET FRANC 2015



“I think there’s a reason why wine figures into so many religions.  There’s something transcendent about it.  It’s sort of the way that music is more than the sum of its parts.  You have all these elements that make up the terroir that wine can communicate.” …. Maynard James Keenan




Ah, Cabernet Franc!  You have enjoyed it from the cool growing area of the Loire Valley in France and from the Finger Lakes AVA in New York.  Lighter. Fresh. A good call for transitioning from winter’s heavy reds to summer’s lighter ones.  And this too is from France, so it must be the same as the Chinon from the Loire that you are so used to.  Except it’s not.  Not better. Not less better. Just different.  It is, after all, from the south of France where the climate is Mediterranean. Different terroir. Different wine.  But try it with an herb crusted rib eye steak and tell me it’s not very good.


It’s also amazingly priced with an ARP of $10.

Aromas of black licorice, rose, sweet black raspberry and kirsch. On the palate: raspberry liquor. Red berry fruit, ripe but unsweet. A tone of mashed, cooked fruit and vanilla. Finishes with tannins just enough to be noted while coating the back of your upper teeth.

The 150-acre Domaine Laroque has been making wine on the rocky hills just outside the fortified city of Carcassonne (a sub-region of Languedoc-Roussillon) in southern France) since the sixth century.  It is 100% Cabernet Franc, a not-too-common offering when unblended from France. Unique in the concentration of its fruit, the area is known for producing wines with dusty rose characteristics.  Tasters often refer to this wine’s notes of red currant, cranberry and tobacco with earthy and herbal notes and a hint of black pepper.  Some pick up notes of caramelized tomato paste. 

Whatever you detect, if you enjoy Cabernet Franc, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Sante!
………….Jim  

Follow Wine Mizer on Facebook for mini-reviews, industry news and food pairing suggestions.


ETCETERA
ALC:                       13.5%
Imported By:      Aquitaine Wine USA (Berkley CA)
Classification:     IGP



 







No comments:

Post a Comment