Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is a fragrant, medium-bodied red grape from the Loire Valley in north-west France, where it shines in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny, and it's also a key blending partner in Bordeaux's Right Bank, notably Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. It makes elegant reds with raspberry, red plum, violets and a distinctive leafy, pencil-shaving edge, with fresh acidity and softer tannins than its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon. It's also grown in Hawke's Bay, Tuscany, California and Argentina, and is a lovely match for roast chicken, duck, charcuterie and herby dishes.
