THIS WEEK'S TASTING FLIGHT:

Cabernet Franc from Around the World

Discover how this noble grape expresses itself across four regions and styles!

Last weekend’s snow had Charlotte feeling extra cozy ❄️ We hope everyone stayed safe and warm... and if you’re still in winter mode, we’ve got plenty of cozy bottles on the shelves right now to help you through it.

Before we get into this week’s flight, a quick thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our feedback survey. We were genuinely overwhelmed by the number of responses and how thoughtful your input was. We read every single one and truly value the time you spent sharing your thoughts with us. The gift card winner will be notified this weekend!

This week, we’re spotlighting a grape that wine lovers can’t stop talking about: Cabernet Franc. Often described as the “insider’s red,” Cab Franc is aromatic, food-friendly, and grown all over the world. This week's flight is designed to show just how differently it can express itself depending on where it’s grown.

Our $32 tasting flight explores Cabernet Franc across four regions and styles, from Loire Valley classic to California, South Africa, and Argentina. It’s a great way to discover (or rediscover) why this grape has become such a favorite among both casual drinkers and serious wine nerds alike.

Bobby Wallace “Off the Record” Cabernet Franc 2023 (Elgin, South Africa)

• Bright, peppery, and fresh, offering a Loire-inspired take with vibrant red fruit and savory lift.

Thierry Germain “Cuvée Domaine” Saumur-Champigny 2024 (Loire Valley, France)

• Classic Loire Cabernet Franc with lively red fruit, herbal nuance, and an easy, food-friendly style.

Foxen “Tinaquaic Vineyard” Cabernet Franc 2021 (Santa Maria Valley, California)

• A richer, more structured expression with dark fruit, polished tannins, and real cellar potential.

Ernesto Catena “Siesta en el Tahuantinsuyu” Cabernet Franc 2019 (Mendoza, Argentina)

• High-altitude Cabernet Franc with depth, firm structure, and layered dark fruit and herbal notes.

Join us in the Tasting Room this weekend to travel the world through Cabernet Franc... and maybe pick up a cozy bottle (or two) while you’re here!

Cheers!

Petit Philippe

Saturday, February 7th | 3-5 PM

January Wine Club Tasting & Pickup Party

Due to last weekend's weather, we've rescheduled our pickup party to THIS Saturday, Feb. 7th!

🍷 Taste exciting new selections curated for next month's offering while picking up your Club wine

🍷 Learn about our 2026 Wine Club membership perks & exclusive events

🍷 Enjoy a complimentary tasting as a Club Member (or join us for just $15 if you're not yet a member).

*Tasting fee is waived when you sign up for a new club membership.

📍 Drop in anytime between 3pm - 5pm for a relaxed and welcoming experience!

Learn More About Wine Club →

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Bobby Wallace

'Off the Record' Cabernet Franc 2023

Elgin • South Africa

$35 retail

A sharp, cool-climate take on Cabernet Franc from Elgin, South Africa. Built around fresh lift, savory detail, and real drinkability. This is a great “gateway” Cab Franc for casual drinkers, but there’s enough structure and nuance here to keep enthusiasts paying attention.

This bottling is especially fun because it’s the first vintage of Off the Record Cabernet Franc, made from a small vineyard on the Wallace family farm in Elgin, with a very limited production (about 900 bottles). It’s Cab Franc with a gentle nod to a more Loire-inspired sensibility—bright, herbal, and precise rather than heavy or oaky.

Varietal & Vinification: 100% Cabernet Franc. A 3-day cold soak, partial whole-bunch (20%), then a mix of pumpovers/punchdowns, followed by post-fermentation maceration. Aged about 10 months in 300L barrels with a measured new oak component (roughly one-third new).

Tasting Notes: Deep garnet with a ruby edge. Aromas of dark summer fruit and red berries (think strawberry/bramble), plus violet, dried herbs, and cracked peppercorn. On the palate it stays lively and savory, with finely integrated tannins and a clean, structured finish.

If you’re Cab Franc-curious, this is an ideal starting point... and if you already love Loire reds, this one makes a strong case for why Elgin is worth watching.

Bring a Bottle Home →

Thierry Germain

'Domaine des Rouches' Neuves Samur-Champigny 2019

Loire Valley • France

$45 retail

A classic Loire Cabernet Franc, this is the kind of bottle that explains why Saumur-Champigny is a go-to for people who want red wine that’s fresh, savory, and food-friendly... without feeling heavy or oaky. Thierry Germain’s “Cuvée Domaine” is often considered the estate’s core expression: clear, energetic, and unmistakably Loire.

The 2024 leans into what Germain does best: harvesting on the earlier side for lift and brightness, and letting the vineyard character show. Fruit comes from a mix of parcels (and vine ages) across Saumur-Champigny, so you get both immediate charm and enough structure to keep enthusiasts interested.

Varietal & Vinification: 100% Cabernet Franc, fully destemmed, from 4–70 year old vines on sand, clay, and tuffeau/limestone soils. The wine is raised primarily in tank with very minimal additions (often just a small dose of SO₂ at bottling depending on the year).

Tasting Notes: Bright red-fruit aromatics (raspberry/cherry), a classic Cab Franc thread of fresh herbs/pepper, and a clean, mineral-leaning finish. The palate is airy, lively, and precise—the kind of red that makes you want another sip and another bite of food.

If you’re coming in for the flight, this is the “reference point” glass: Loire Cab Franc in a nutshell, and a perfect bridge between casual drinkers who want something bright and enthusiasts who love site-driven reds.

Bring a Bottle Home →

Foxen

'Tinaquic Vineyard' Cabernet Franc 2021

Central Coast • California

$67 retail

A serious, Santa Barbara County take on Cabernet Franc: riper, deeper, and more structured than the Loire expressions. Tinaquaic is Foxen’s home turf in Santa Maria Valley, and this bottling shows what Cab Franc can do when it’s treated like a top-tier red: concentration, polish, and real cellar potential.

Fruit comes from the Tinaquaic Vineyard (Bajita Block) and is handled in small lots to keep detail and precision. It’s a great “middle anchor” in the flight... big enough for Cabernet drinkers, but still distinctly Cab Franc in its savory edge and aromatics.

Varietal & Vinification: 100% Cabernet Franc. Whole-berry destemmed into small open-top fermenters by clonal lot (Clones 4 & 623), with a 2-day cold maceration, then about 21 days active fermentation with pump-overs twice daily. Aged 22 months in 225L French oak with a measured 12% new oak, and bottled without fining or filtration.

Tasting Notes: Dark red cherry and plum depth with a more Santa Maria–style savoriness (think dried herbs, espresso-toned complexity, and a hint of menthol-like lift). On the palate it’s medium-to-full, with firm but polished tannins and the kind of length that makes it feel “collectable” (even if you drink it young).

If you like Cabernet but want something a little more aromatic and distinctive, this is the glass that usually wins people over... and it’s an easy bottle to justify taking home after the flight.

Bring a Bottle Home →

Ernesto Catena Vineyards

'Siesta en el Tahuantinsuyu' Cabernet Franc 2019

Mendoza • Argentina

$40 retail

A high-altitude Argentine Cabernet Franc that shows the grape’s darker, more structured side while still keeping its signature freshness and herbal lift. From Ernesto Catena’s small-production, sustainability-focused project in Mendoza, this wine brings depth, age, and a sense of place to the flight.

The fruit comes from vineyards in the Uco Valley, where elevation and intense sunlight create wines with both ripeness and natural acidity. With a few years of bottle age, the 2019 is beginning to show more complexity and savory nuance, making it a great contrast to the fresher styles in the lineup.

Varietal & Vinification: 100% Cabernet Franc from high-elevation Mendoza vineyards. Crafted with a low-intervention approach and aged in oak to add structure and polish without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes: Dark berry and plum fruit layered with dried herbs, cocoa, and subtle spice. The palate is fuller and more structured than the other wines in the flight, with firm but integrated tannins and a long, savory finish.

This is the “richer, more powerful” expression in the lineup—perfect for Cabernet lovers and a compelling reminder of how well Cabernet Franc adapts to high-altitude terroir.

Bring a Bottle Home →

Varietal View: Cabernet Franc

The Insider’s Red: Aromatic, food-friendly, and grown around the world

Cabernet Franc is one of the world’s most important (and often underrated) red grapes. It’s older than Cabernet Sauvignon and actually one of its parents, alongside Sauvignon Blanc. The grape has been grown in France for centuries, with records placing it in the Loire Valley as early as the 1600s. Over time, it spread to Bordeaux and eventually around the world, where it has become a favorite of winemakers who value freshness, aromatics, and food-friendly structure.

For years, Cabernet Franc lived in the shadow of Cabernet Sauvignon... often used as a blending grape rather than bottled on its own. But in the past two decades, it has gained a devoted following. Many wine lovers and sommeliers now seek it out specifically for its balance of fruit, acidity, and savory character.

Today, Cabernet Franc is grown across Europe, North and South America, South Africa, and beyond, producing wines that clearly reflect where they’re grown.

FRANCE (Loire Valley & Bordeaux)

France remains Cabernet Franc’s spiritual home.

In the Loire Valley (especially Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny), Cabernet Franc is usually bottled on its own. These wines tend to be lighter in body, vibrant, and driven by freshness. Cooler temperatures help preserve acidity and highlight the grape’s herbal and floral side.

In Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc plays a supporting role in blends with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Here it adds perfume, lift, and structure, especially in Right Bank wines from Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.

UNITED STATES (California)

In California, Cabernet Franc often shows a riper, fuller expression. Warmer sunshine leads to deeper fruit flavors and a slightly richer texture, while still maintaining the grape’s signature aromatics.

Many producers treat Cabernet Franc as a premium red, using longer oak aging and single-vineyard sourcing to highlight its structure and aging potential.

SOUTH AMERICA (Argentina & Chile)

Cabernet Franc has quietly become a rising star in Argentina, particularly in the high-altitude vineyards of Mendoza. Elevation brings warm days and cool nights, which allows the grape to ripen fully while keeping freshness.

These wines often balance ripe dark fruit with herbal lift and firm structure, making them appealing to Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers looking for something slightly more aromatic and distinctive.

SOUTH AFRICA

Cooler regions like Elgin have proven especially well suited to Cabernet Franc. Here, the grape often leans toward a Loire-inspired style (fresh, savory, and peppery), while still offering a bit of New World ripeness.

Main Tasting Profile

Cabernet Franc is known for being aromatic, versatile, and food-friendly. While styles vary widely by region, there are consistent themes that show up across the globe.

Common Aromas

• Red cherry, raspberry, and plum
• Violet and dried herbs
• Bell pepper or fresh herbs (especially in cooler climates)
• Black pepper and subtle spice

On the Palate

Cabernet Franc typically has medium body, moderate tannins, and bright acidity. It often feels lighter and more refreshing than Cabernet Sauvignon, while still offering structure and depth.

Regional differences show up clearly in the glass:

• Cool climate (Loire, Elgin): brighter red fruit, herbal notes, pepper, higher acidity
• Warm climate (California): darker fruit, richer texture, more oak influence
• High altitude (Argentina): ripe fruit balanced by freshness, firm structure, long finish

One of the reasons Cabernet Franc is so beloved is its versatility. It can feel fresh and easygoing or structured and age-worthy depending on where it’s grown. Each of the wines selected for this week's flight showcase a different side of Cabernet Franc... which will be your favorite?

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