Cabernet Franc Blanc
Solid Wine, Great Food But a Poor Wine and Food Pairing!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
My wife found a great recipe for Chinese Chicken Salad. Being that it was 114 degrees today, she cooked the chicken the night before to have a cold salad for dinner. The recipe looked enticing. Traditional food and wine pairing wisdom leans toward a dry Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. We just had a Sauvignon Blanc the night before and my favorite dry Riesling, Smith-Madrone Vineyards, is in a refrigerator locker storage about 30 minutes away. So took the opportunity to try a different approach with a Cabernet Franc Blanc, 2022 L’Autre Côte from Steven Kent Winery. Again, one of my favorite anonymous quotes is “Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you”. Thus, the adventure began albeit not successful.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First, if you are a red Cabernet Franc lover, you will find tasting this wine a mind-challenging experience. For me it certainly was! First on the eyes, it is difficult to visualize and comprehend a Cabernet Franc Blanc! Secondly when smelling it very little of the typical red fruit qualities waft into the senses. Then the first sip, you are startled that this is a Cabernet Franc with little red fruit taste. Now after closing one’s eyes and sipping many times, once you can calm your uncomfortableness, an entirely new world opens.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The wine on the eyes is a clear elixir with almost “no coloring. On the nose fresh floral fragrances and almond are noted. Once on the palate the magic appears with honeydew melon, white peach, mellow apricot and a sweet grapefruit. The finish provides a definite crispness of citrus notes but still subdued. A very complex finish with a Yin-Yang struggle and contentment of a red Cabernet Franc verses a white Cabernet Franc. In this wine they gracefully co-exist and accentuate the unique flavors of the juice.
Steven Mirassou’s goal for this wine was straightforward “…..I wanted Cab Franc Blanc to be a white, crisp and pure with a flavor profile that makes for a delicious and fascinating wine. And I think that is exactly what we got”.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Now the tricky part! The dinner meal was a new recipe called Chinese Chicken Salad containing Chinese cabbage, red cabbage, shredded carrots, scallions and chicken. Garnished with crunchy noodles, green onions and sesame seeds. The Asian dressing combined soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, canola oil, brown sugar, fresh ginger, minced garlic and black pepper. The dressing was mixed in a bowl to be served and if needed additional dressing was available. The dish was fantastic and now a favorite of mine especially during the hot summer.
Now the catch: If we had a dry Riesling it would have with its bright fruit and high acidity balanced soy sauce and sesame oil. Or if a Sauvignon Blanc was served it with its citrus and herbal notes cut through the oily dressing and highlighted the fresh greens and help cut through the fat content of the dressing. The Cabernet Franc Blanc, with its delicate aromas and tastes, was overpowered by the dressing. Finally stopped drinking the wine with dinner and enjoyed it after dinner as picked up the fine delicate and finesse aromas/tastes.
The Winery
Steven Kent Mirassou, providing his traditional award-winning style and experience from his Cabernet Sauvignon and red Cabernet Franc’s wines embarked a couple of years back on this new journey with this release coming out initially in March 2023. Since then, he was won many prestigious awards for his Cabernet Franc Blanc, L’Autre Côte.
Here is just one past link to his red Cabernet Franc winning Best of Class:
Venturing into this new “blanc” wine is something he has been contemplating for some time and in 2022 set out to provide his take with a white Cabernet Franc. The goal to get the fruit to the winery immediately and to get it pressed. Fast, gentle whole cluster press and no soaking. Put into the fermenter at 49 degrees it took almost a month to bring the wine to a completely dry quality.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2024 LXV Blanc De Franc – An Elegant and Layered Beauty With a Subtle Message
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Our Friday Night Wine & Dine group met last Thursday evening to enjoy a meal at Verona18. Their special this evening was a blackened salmon, and I decided to pair it with this wine.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes, a pale light-yellow color. On the nose, floral aromas that changed throughout the wine temperature. On the palate, flavors of white peach and pear were dominant. Secondary flavors of minerality and a touch of vanilla. Most notable was the weightiness of this wine in the mouth due to being aged 10 months on lees with constant stirring in French oak barrels. The finish was a bit abbreviated, which only beckoned another sip. Each sip was contemplative trying to unlock the secret code to this graceful and delicate wine.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Besides the wine being mysterious and hiding nuances of subtle enjoyment, so the label is similar. Notice the label has writings in Sanskrit references sections of the Bhagavad Gita. The answer is straightforward with the upper portion referencing “earth, water, fire, ether, mind, intellect and ego” referencing components of material matter. For LXV, Neeta explained that this “speaks beautifully to terroir” the elements that give wine its character.
The second reference, being the lower portion, states “the one who knows the truth thinks I do nothing at all”. This about the ego-less actor referencing the winemaker who as Neeta states “is fully engaged in the world yet knows the true self is untouched and the winemaker acts, but nature does the work”.
Truly both reference the wine grounded in terroir, the elements of earth, and speaks to effortless ego-fee creation (minimal intervention) that LXV strives for in their winemaking.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Had chosen this wine assuming raspberry and strawberry flavors would counterbalance the blackened salmon with its flavors and the acidity cut through the salmon. Upon reflection the blackened salmon flavor was a bit too much for this refined wine, nevertheless the food and wine were both tremendously enjoyable.
LXV Wines and Wine Tasting Experience
LXV provides a unique tasting experience located at 1306-B Pine Street, Paso Robles. They were rated one of the Top 10 tasting experiences as rated by USA Today. LXV, besides holding regular wine tastings, also provide an optional spice pairing. The spice pairings are far reaching with Peruvian, Mystic Orient, Smolder Notes, Turkish Shores, Shmeli Suneli and many more spice packets. One is whisked away with their varietal and proprietary blends to capture the adventures of different cultures and culinary treats.
Photo of Neeta Mittal from their website
The idea of exotic spices started with Neeta’s mother in a town south of Mumbai. Her mother would regularly visit the spice markets to purchase fragrant herbs and spices to go with their handmade Tandoori Masala. One of the goals of spice tasting is to open the confined discussion of pH and acidity of wine to a broad horizon of international flavors. Today they offer besides a variety of “Bordeaux influenced wines”, others like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Syrah and many more. Their wines receive ratings from 97 points to 99 points!!
Kunal and Neeta Mittal are the driving force behind their love affair with Cabernet Franc offerings. Currently they offer Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from France, Saint Émilion and their Willow Creek estate in Paso Robles. As they state “Maison Mittal, exists where Bordeaux and Paso conspire – two continents speaking one language of stone, discipline and time. We arrive not as a luxury, but as a reminder that wine can still be a practice of place, spoken with global fluency and crafted with unapologetic precision. The wines we leave behind will outlast the moment they were made.”
Photo of Kunal Mittal from their website
To read more about their journey, how they found Paso Robles and they quest to make Paso Robles the Cabernet Franc capital in California read the following links:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2023/12/26/lxv-wines-presented-cab-franc-day-paso-robles/
and
and
A few other wines were enjoyed this evening with each person or couple bringing a wine of choice from their home.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
Quady North’s Award-Winning Cabernet Franc Sparkling Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
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Photos ©Michael Kelly
At the 5th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition & Celebration, Quady North won Best of Show from both the Professional and People’s Choice Judges in the Specialty Division. Both sets of judges also awarded them a Silver Medal. The Specialty Division included Cabernet Franc Blanc, Sparkling and other presentations representing a minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc grapes.
The Winery
Photo from Quady North website
The winery was founded in 2005 when Andrew and Laurel Quady partnered with their son, Herb. They are located on a 100-acre estate vineyard in the Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon. The winery is known for the Rhone varieties of Syrah and Viognier as well as their Cabernet Franc. They also source from other vineyards in Southern Oregon as the warmer temperatures are found there. They are committed to small production to showcase the expressive vineyards of Southern Oregon.
Photo from Quady North website
Herb and his wife Meloney made their first vintage in 2006. Herb was working as the winemaker at Troon Vineyard. The original planting was named “Mae’s Vineyard” after their eldest daughter Margaux Mae. In this vineyard, Syrah, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Tannat, Malbec and Orange Muscat were planted. In 2011 a second planting was named for the younger daughter Serafina Eevee and planted with Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Noir and Malvasia Bianca. Both vineyards are certified sustainable and Certified Organic.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Do you know the name of the cage that is on sparkling wine? It is called a muselet. It comes from the French word museler meaning to muzzle since the carbonation pressure is intense. The typical pressure of a bottle of sparkling is between 70-90 pounds per square inch, more than double most car tire pressure. The muselet helps secure the cork in the bottle and keeps it sealed.
The soft amber coloring of the champenoise method wine shines brightly in the bottle and the glass. It is both intriguing and alluring in its color. It is medium body viscosity. On the nose are aromatic floral and pomegranate. On the palate, the dominant flavor of green apples floods the mouth with each sip. Surprisingly, very little typical Cabernet Franc notes of pyrazines (green peppers) and distinct other Cabernet Franc flavors appeared. In fact, this wine was refreshing and very enjoyable without the typical Cabernet Franc notes. It did have a secondary flavoring of ripe raspberries. On the abbreviated finish, still provided enough “umph” to complete the tasting with the brut dryness and lively acidity.
Wine Enthusiast rated it 95 points. It was made with 100% Cabernet Franc grapes using extended tirage (10 months), making it 26 months before disgorging. 2019 sold for $39/bottle and came in at 11.9% alcohol.
This wine will make my annual list of the Best Wines tasted during the year 2025, which comes out in December. Approximately 2% of the 1600-1800 wines tasted make the list and it is split between under $50 and $51 and above price points.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I decided to pair this sparkling wine with mesquite pork chops. They were seasoned with a dry rub of onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, smoked paprika and mesquite seasoning. The pork chop was plated with Cherry Pepper Sauce from Steward & Jasper Orchards. Accompanied by baked potato wedges with Russet potatoes cut into eights with olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper, grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley. Choosing this wine was “unusual” but took the chance. It paid off in spades as it was refreshing and lively wine with its abundant fruit contrasting beautifully with the smokey and tangy pork chop and even the potatoes!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
After dinner the temperature was still in the high 80’s and moved to the patio. Used one of the new one-inch REUSACUBE’s to keep the sparkling wine cool (without diluting it) and it worked very well.
Sláinte,
Michael
2023 LXV Wines Blanc de Franc – An Exquisite and Rare Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
There is a fine line between poetry and wine. Add the rich and proud heritage of Indian culture, the descriptions become intertwined. When thinking about Indian poetry it conjures up rich imagery and philosophical depth. Adding a lyrical poetry element and you have an appropriate description of this wine!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Immediately upon pulling this wine out of the cellar is the noticeable unique coloring. While being a “blanc” it possesses a color of salmon, peach and gold in a radiant presentation. Upon opening the wine aromas enter the senses and provide a warm greeting of exotic fruits. On the palate is where this wine shines with liveliness, somewhere between a jitterbug dance and a sensuous tango. Flavors of fresh white peach dominate and closely followed by honeydew melon. The textual feel is unique for a white Cabernet Franc filling the mouth from corner to corner. The weightiness is very similar to a Roussanne/Marsanne blend. This heaviness comes from the sur lie stirring and élevage. The finish provides a beautiful clean minerality and a touch of vanilla.
It is 100% Cabernet Franc Blanc and lists for $75/bottle. It comes in at 13.8% alcohol and 115 cases were produced. The grapes came from Eckert Family Vineyards in Adelaide and were selected from sun exposure vines to burn off the pyrazines. The grapes where gently pressed and fermented in tank and then aged for 10 months in French oak barrels.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine will make my annual Best Wines Tasted list for 2025 in the above $51 category. The unique color, substantial mouthfeel and exotic tastes catapulted the wine for inclusion.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with chicken and bok choy stir fry. In addition to the chicken and bok choy, white mushrooms were added. All were cooked on the stove in a cast iron pan with cornstarch, canola oil, dark sesame oil, white onions, ginger root, minced garlic, water and a tinge of soy sauce. Again, a delicious summertime “light” meal with a refreshing wine, hit the bullseye!
The Winery and Wine Tasting Experience
LXV provides a unique tasting experience. So much so that they were rated one of the Top 10 tasting experiences as rated by USA Today. LXV, besides holding regular wine tastings, they also provide an optional spice pairing. The spice pairings are far reaching with Peruvian, Mystic Orient, Smolder Notes, Turkish Shores, Shmeli Suneli and many more spice packets. One is whisked away with their varietal and proprietary blends to capture the adventures of different cultures and culinary treats.
Photo of Neeta Mittal from their website
The idea of exotic spices started with Neeta’s mother in a town south of Mumbai. Her mother would regularly visit the spice markets to purchase fragrant herbs and spices to go with their handmade Tandoori Masala. One of the goals of spice tasting is to open the confined discussion of pH and acidity of wine to a broad horizon of international flavors.
Today they offer besides a variety of “Bordeaux influenced wines”, others like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Syrah and many more. For more information you can read a previously published story:
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly