Cuvée Binette

	Winery Origin Vintage Style Varietal Price Current Stock	Domaine de la Chevalerie AOC Bourgueil, Loire, France 2007 Red Cabernet Franc £11.99
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Story

Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, Cabernet Franc is one of the world’s forgotten stars (did you know that Cab-Sauvignon is actually a cross between Cab-Franc and Sauv-Blanc?). So steps forward Sam Harrop MW, 'Project Cabernet Franc' and some very forward-thinking Loire winemakers to produce Ambassador wines that showcase what the area is capable of.

Taste

Great Cab-Franc should be light and fruit driven, and this 12.5% wine is exceptionally so. The project techies talk about pruning to reduce yields, canopy management and matching phenolic ripeness to the fruit flavour (blimey!). Our sommeliers talk about its vibrant purple-red ‘robe’, appealing nose of sloes, redcurrants and red pepper, cherry-bright acidity and earthy-peppery notes. Cuvée Binette uses no chemical intervention, and is hand-picked.

Serve

Cool at 16°.

Match

Try it as an apéritif with chicken liver paté or rabbit slow-cooked in red wine, Navarin (French ragoût stew) of lamb or pork and flavoured with Agen prunes.

Avoid

Wrestling with ‘bargain’ 15.5% New-World blockbusters which eventually leave you feeling exhausted. Getting roughed-up is rarely a ‘bargain’.

Quote

Now here’s proper balance: elegant red and black fruits, soft in the mouth and perfect acidity. Our chef Laurent will like this one - hide it!
Lucio Penetra
Head Sommelier
L’Oranger Restaurant, St James’s, London