If I had to choose one red grape from one region I loved above all others, it would most likely be Cabernet Franc from France’s Loire Valley. The wines tend to be everything I am looking for in a red: lighter style, not too boozy, and full of savory, non-fruity notes.
Favorite Loire Valley Cabernet Franc
Best Red Wine I’ve Had In Years
But not all Loire Cabernet Franc is on the delicate side. Peep the first wine linked above that’s an all-time favorite, and one that can age with the best of them. It’s got a little more oomph than your typical LCF, though certainly not possessing Napa Cab-esque weight. (The biggest Loire Cab Franc I can recall is Clos Rougeard, which is very pricey and not widely available. But well-worth the money and search. I drank it at RN74 Seattle, BTW.)
Recently in New York, while attending a natural wine tasting, I came across this gem:
Domaine Grosbois Chinon Clos du Noyer 2012
This Cabernet Franc from Chinon–a top spot for the grape in the Loire Valley–is certified organic and definitely has some (staying) power. It was the wine I chose to include in a roundup of bottles for Earth Day. These selections are up on Wine Enthusiast, along with some eco-friendly beer and spirits picks. And though Earth Day is in the rear view mirror, it’s a holiday worth celebrating year-round. Check it out:
Planet of the Grapes
New York News
I’m back in the city after a sojourn up in White Plains, where I stayed in a giant house, chilled out, and had a much, much more manageable commute.
Now I’m living on the Upper East Side, Yorkville to be specific.
I’m a few short blocks from Central Park, notable museums, as well as a cool spot on the East River, Schurz Park.
Here’s a pic from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park: