Variety
RedCabernet Franc
The elegant parent of Cabernet Sauvignon – fragrant, herbal, finer tannin. Defines Saint-Émilion (Cheval Blanc, Figeac) and is winning friends in Germany.
Portrait
Cabernet Franc is an old variety from south-western France and a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carménère. In Bordeaux it matters mainly on the Right Bank in Saint-Émilion; in the Loire it is a leading variety, for example in Chinon and Bourgueil, where it is also made as a single-variety wine.
The vine buds and ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon and tolerates cooler sites and soils with limestone and clay. At excessive yields green-pepper notes result. The wine is paler and less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon, with raspberry, violet and herbs. In the atlas, plantings are recorded in Bordeaux, Western Australia and Pfalz.
Cabernet Franc goes with lamb, poultry, vegetables and mild hard cheese and can be cellared for several years.
Taste profile
Six axes — acidity, sweetness, body, tannin, aroma intensity and depth — on a 0–5 scale, based on typical style. Real wines vary by region and producer.
Typical aromas — Cabernet Franc
These 6 aromas typically define Cabernet Franc. Actual taste experience varies by region and style.
Raspberry
Redcurrant
Bell pepper
Violet
Graphite
Pencil shavings
Cabernet Franc aroma families
These aroma categories are characteristic of Cabernet Franc. Other varieties have different focuses.
Fruit aromas are the most common and come directly from the grape, ranging from citrus through stone fruit to black berries.
Floral aromas are especially marked in aromatic varieties like Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
Herbal aromas can be finely aromatic (sage) or grassy – a stylistic feature in some varieties, ripeness indicator in others.
Spicy aromas often emerge from oak aging (vanilla, clove) or with maturity (black pepper).
Key regions
Cabernet Franc is grown in the following regions of our atlas. Click to see wineries.
Wineries with Cabernet Franc
159 curated profiles in our atlas grow Cabernet Franc.
159 wineries
Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac · Pauillac
Cabernet Sauvignon ~70%, Merlot ~25%, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot ~5%
Château Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac · Pauillac
Cabernet Sauvignon ~80%, Merlot ~16%, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot
Château Ausone
Saint-Émilion · Saint-Émilion
Merlot 50 %, Cabernet Franc 50 %
Château Cheval Blanc
Saint-Émilion · Saint-Émilion
Cabernet Franc 58 %, Merlot 42 %
Château Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Merlot ~44%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~46%, Cabernet Franc ~10% — plus weltberühmter Weißwein
Château Margaux
Margaux · Margaux
Cabernet Sauvignon ~75%, Merlot ~20%, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc
Château Angélus
Saint-Émilion · Saint-Émilion
Merlot ~50%, Cabernet Franc ~47%
Château Figeac
Saint-Émilion · Saint-Émilion
Cabernet Sauvignon ~35%, Cabernet Franc ~35%, Merlot ~30%
Château Lafleur
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot, Cabernet Franc