2009 Cabernet Franc – Chinon

Cabernet Franc Ambassadors Wine Tour of the Loire

'Q. Why select Ambassadors for Cabernet Franc?

A. The UK Palate for red wine has historically been trained on Bordeaux blends, that of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a little Cabernet Franc. So coming to the Cabernet Franc, in the Loire, as a single varietal has traditionally been hard on the palate. This has been due to the grape not fully ripening in the cooler climate, which in turn leaves green/hard tannins. So a team at Interloire have been quietly working away on a 5 year Cabernet Franc Project to find the best Cabernet Franc wines in the Loire Valley.'

Mont Ventoux that dominates the southern Rhône vineyards

Two Centre Wine Tours i.e.: Loire/Burgundy – Loire/Rhône

Micaela and Sue: 'On another tack we have just partnered with Burgundy Discovery and Rhone

Wine Holidays to offer Two Centre Wine Tours i.e.: Loire/Burgundy – Loire/Rhône

Sign@Le Clos Cristal

10-hectare Le Clos Cristal is one of two vineyards designed and built by Le Père Cristal at the turn of the 20th century. Antoine Cristal built walls in his vineyards, which had holes in them. This allowed him to plant the vines in the shade and then to trained the vine through the hole, so that the rest of the plant and its grapes were in the sunshine and also benefited from the radiator effect of the sun’s heat stored and given out by the wall.

Above and below: vine roots in the shade

Rest of the vines facing the sun

Geese and a hen@Le Clos Cristal

Le Clos Cristal was planted with Cabernet Franc and only some of the vines are trained through walls, the rest of the vineyard is planted normally. However, in the Clos des Murs at Parnay (part of the Château de Parnay) all the vines are trained through the walls. This is a much small vineyard and is planted with Chenin Blanc.

Old bottles in the cellar@Le Clos Cristal

Sign@the Clos des Murs, Parnay

As far as I know nobody else took Cristal's example and planted walls in a vineyard for although it works – I have tasted several impressive vintages of the cuvée Clos des Murs from Le Clos Cristal – it must be a very expensive way of growing vines. There are some three kilometres of wall in the Clos Cristal.

More details on Antoine Cristal:

www.thewinedoctor.com/weekend/closcristalhospicessaumurchampigny06.shtml

www.mon-chef-a-moi.com/vin/val-de-loire/cristal.html

Also Le Clos Cristal www.clos-cristal.com

The Loire Cabernet Franc Project has an imposing and eye-catching stand at this year's London Interantional Wine Trade Fair at the Excel Exhibition Centre in east London.

Lindsay Oram with Divid Longfield, deputy editor of Drinks International

More photos and reports from the London fair will be posted tomorrow.