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2016 Clau de Nell (Leflaive) Anjou Cabernet Franc

2016 Clau de Nell (Leflaive) Anjou Cabernet Franc

93 RP

Availability:

Sokolin Notes:
This 93 Point, Loire Red Offers Amazing Taste!

From the critics:

91 WE

90 WS

Featured Review
From 45-year-old vines, macerated for 30-35 days ("just infusion, no extraction") and aged in old barrels for 12 months plus six months in tanks, the 2016 Anjou Cabernet Franc is pure and intense on the nose that reveals finely concentrated raspberry, red cherry and tobacco aromas. Pure, intense and fresh on the palate, this is a silky-textured, refined and elegant red with fine tannins and vibrantly mineral acidity. Tart on the finish but full of character. Excellent. Bottled at the end of April 2017. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 93 RP

Critic Reviews

From 45-year-old vines, macerated for 30-35 days ("just infusion, no extraction") and aged in old barrels for 12 months plus six months in tanks, the 2016 Anjou Cabernet Franc is pure and intense on the nose that reveals finely concentrated raspberry, red cherry and tobacco aromas. Pure, intense and fresh on the palate, this is a silky-textured, refined and elegant red with fine tannins and vibrantly mineral acidity. Tart on the finish but full of character. Excellent. Bottled at the end of April 2017.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP
While this wine has some age, it still shows considerable acidity. A light touch of tannin and plenty of perfumed fruitiness give a wine that has structure and that will age. Drink from 2021.

Wine Enthusiast | 91 WE
A very charming version, with tobacco leaf and oregano notes framing the core of dark cherry and mulberry, while spice details glide along the edges. Well-integrated tannins provide support, creating good balance overall. Drink now through 2024. 1,250 cases made, 250 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Wine Details for 2016 Clau de Nell (Leflaive) Anjou Cabernet Franc

Type of Wine Loire Red
Varietal Cabernet Franc : Much like Merlot, the Cabernet Franc grape variety has been quietly providing the backbone for some of the greatest wines in the Right Bank of Bordeaux, most notably Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Ausone. It has played the supporting role in most cases but is important to note that its role is an important one. It is one of the three major varietals used for blending Bordeaux wines (along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) and has proved its importance over a very long history. Cabernet Franc parented the highly popular and most planted varietal in the world, Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as the Bordeaux varietals of Merlot and Carmenere.

It is speculated that the Basque Country, in the western Pyrenees, is the birthplace of Cabernet Franc. This area straddles the border of France and Spain and is one of Europe’s oldest and strongest cultures. The varietal has greatly influenced winemaking in both countries, used in blending as well as single-varietal bottlings. The soil in this region is considered poor with high clay content, which is actually good given the vines tenacity and ability to grow vigorously in many soil types in both cool and warm climates. Studies by UC Davis confirm that it is ill-advised to plant Cabernet Franc in highly fertile, deep soils.

Cabernet Franc’s true date of origin is unknown; however, it far precedes its offspring, Cabernet Sauvignon, which began to appear in the 17th century. It would become popular in the 1600s in the Loire Valley France, where it is still very much used to this day. In fact it is the most important red grape variety in Loire. Cabernet Franc ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes it perfectly suited to its cooler temperatures. It would take another hundred years before its arrival to Saint Emilion and Pomerol.

France alone, is in possession of half the world’s Cabernet Franc vines. It has been a staple in Right Bank, covering massive amounts of hectares of vineyards and used in blending some of the greatest wines in the region. The tremendous vineyards of Chateau Cheval Blanc in Saint Emilion are planted to at least 55% Cabernet Franc, while Chateau Ausone is planted to over 52% of the varietal. The widely popular Pomerol, Chateau Lafleur is planted to 50% Cabernet Franc. Some of the greatest wine producers in the Right Bank rely on the Cabernet Franc growing in their vineyards for their continued success.

Though Cabernet Franc is not amongst the “sexy” category of grapes, it can be described as the feminine side of Cabernet Sauvignon. As world-renowned Jancis Robinson states, “it is subtly fragrant and gently flirtatious rather than massively muscular and tough in its youth.” This thin-skinned grape produces wines of high quality with the characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon but not of high color or tannins. The varietal ages rapidly in warmer regions, which interestingly brings California into the fray. UC Davis researchers concluded in a 1963 study that California was not a suitable location for planting Cabernet Franc due to its warmer climate; nevertheless it was planted in the late 1960s in Napa Valley. Originally, the idea for blending Cabernet Franc was to allow the wine itself to age quicker, making it immediately accessible to American consumers with less patience. Over the years the varietal has been re-evaluated and has begun to take on a larger role in California winemaking. Producers such as Viader’s almost-cult bottling is around 50% Cabernet Franc.

Today, Cabernet Franc is found in terroir hotspots (figuratively) around the world in mostly cooler climates and used in both blended and single-varietal bottlings. It has been flying under the radar helping to produce some of the most prestigious wines in the world. It assumes the under-appreciated, rarely thought of component which has quietly changed the landscape of winemaking and growing, greatly impacting the world of wine.
Country France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world.



For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide.



France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity.



France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.



With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.


Region Loire : Loire Valley has it all. Whether you prefer some of the most famous grape varieties worldwide, or you like to be surprised with secretly brilliant wines, Loire Valley will make you return any time you have a chance. It's unquestionably one of the most diverse, and sometimes unjustly neglected, wine regions in France. Located on the banks of the Loire river, these vineyards are home to some of the most exquisite French wines. And not only does Loire Valley provide us with top-rated wines each year, but it also deserves applause for the number of bottles it produces.
The most prominent grape varieties of Loire are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne. They are undoubtedly the crown jewels of this region, although reds, such as Cabernet Franc, Bourgueil, or Pinot Noir don't fall much behind.

With such exceptional grape varieties, it's impossible to think the Loire wouldn't treat us all with absolutely magnificent wines. It offers a wide palette of crisp and refreshing whites, as well as dry, elegant reds. To feel the magic and the impeccable quality of Loire wines, we recommend Domaine Didier Dagueneau, Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin, or Domaine Huet of Le Haut Lieu.

Subregion Angers
Appellation Anjou

Overview

Producer Clau de Nell (Leflaive)

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