life's not just any cabernet

California Cabernet Sauvignon (2006)
Bogle Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Graton, CA

Isle St. George Cabernet Franc (2006)
Firelands Winery
Cabernet Franc
Isle St. George AVA (Lake Erie)

For people who like red wines, the most common request we have at the winery is for Cabernet. I’ve come to understand that people mean Cabernet Sauvignon, and have rarely, if ever, considered the lonely parent of the California great - Cabernet Franc. Scientists have determined that through a natural coincidence Cabernet Franc crossed with Sauvignon Blanc to result in what we know today as Cabernet Sauvignon. Given the relationship between these two wines you might expect that any Cabernet will do, but in fact each has its own unique profile, and appeals to widely different palates. Today we’ll take a look at both in order to better understand their individual attraction.

Firelands Winery 2006 Isle St. George Cabernet Franc
Appearance: Clear, ruby red in color which is light enough to easily read text through.

Nose: Clean and aromatic. Stand-by green bell pepper with softer earthy notes and fruit including raspberry and blackberry. Oak, leaves, mushroom, and tobacco.

Palate: Dry with medium body, acidity, and tannin. Sticky but doesn't linger too much into the finish. Spicy on the palate with pepper, some oak, sour cherry, cedar, and raspberry.

Cabernet Franc is a red grape variety that is early to ripen compared with other varieties. In addition to this it tends to do very well in cooler climates – including Northern Ohio and other areas around the Great Lakes! Being lighter in body, acidity, and tannin but more aromatic, Cab Franc has long been an important component of the renowned blends from Bordeaux, France. The other two grapes most commonly found in these are Merlot and Cab Sauvignon.

Bogle Vineyards 2006 California Cabernet Sauvignon
Appearance: Also clear with a ruby red color, but deeper in intensity - text is visible bot not clearly legible.

Nose: Clean and pronounced - oak (dill, American Oak?), cherry, currant, blackberry, with some spice. I strongly associate the nose on this Cab with California.

Palate: Dry with really grippy tannins, full bodied, and quite a bit of acidity. Oak and fruit dominate the palate, but more like cooked fruit or jams. Currant, cherry, and blackberry. Also a hint of licorice and a lot of chocolate on the long finish.

Cabernet Sauvignon unlike Cab Franc, is a later ripening variety. Weather and climate permitting, this means the fruit requires a lot more time on the vine and more sunlight. Thus it grows very well in places like California, South America, and Australia which all offer longer growing seasons and lots of sun. Again considering Bordeaux blends, Cab Sauvignon is used to beef up the body, tannin, and fruit characteristics

Given these two examples there are some similarities certainly between each wine. More importantly it should be noted that both varieties are excellent to pair with foods, and so make great dinner wines. And if you enjoy dark chocolate I would highly suggest having some with either Cabernet. Overall Cab Franc appeals to people who enjoy dry wines that are lighter in body and not over the top fruity like some Cab Sauvignons can be. For those who really love “fruit bombs” as they are called or who want a fuller bodied wine Cabernet Sauvignon is just the thing.

Having a cooler climate in northern Ohio, our wineries will produce mostly Cabernet Franc - some even have Cab Franc ice wine which is divine – and they are all worth trying. Cabernet Sauvignon grown here will have more herbaceous characteristics. As a fun idea get some friends together with Cabernets from different areas and taste them together to compare and contrast. Just remember that not all Cabernets are created equal, but it never hurts to try something different – you might find a new favorite.

Cheers!