My Most Memorable Cabernet Francs of 2025

No.69 | A Year in Review

Looking Back…

This year brought with it not only some incredible opportunities and experiences, but also the odd wrinkle that wasn’t on my 2025 Bingo Card at the start of the year.

I was fortunate to have visited a few new wine regions this year, Long Island and the Hudson Valley (thank you, Cab Franc Forward and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation) and also South Africa (thank you, Raats Family Wines). During my brief time (about 48 hours!) in Long Island and Hudson Valley, I was able to get a better idea of the Cabernet Franc picture in these two regions, particularly compared to the Finger Lakes, which will help shape my coverage of the grape for New York State as a whole. And my time in South Africa was my first real in-depth look at the Cabernet Franc scene in Stellenbosch and beyond, and I am looking forward to sharing my discoveries here and on Instagram in the months ahead.

I also travelled to the Loire Valley four times this year - a region that has, in more ways than one, become my second home. I attended the trade salons in February, and later returned in May to give a masterclass for international journalists on behalf of Wines of the Loire Valley as part of their annual press trip, Loire Millésime. And I was back again in June for La Paulée d’Anjou, where I co-led a masterclass on red wines of Anjou with sommelier and journalist Jérôme Gagnez.

Herein lies the first wrinkle (or maybe gift… TBD) of 2025. My June Loire trip was supposed to be a week. That’s all the vacation time I could spare. And then, rather unexpectedly, I was let go from my job in late May (thanks, Trump-Canada tariff war!). Out of a job, having not yet booked my flight to France for June, and with the love of my life in the Loire as well, I decided that a summer in the Loire would be as good for my palate as for my heart and soul. All told, I was in the region for about eight weeks, as I wrote about in a few Substack posts (#’s 63, 64, 65) recapping my time, and I did try to balance Cab Franc Chronicles work, self-reflection and a bit of vacances. I probably would’ve stayed in the Loire right through until harvest had it not been for 2025 Wrinkle #2 - becoming mom to a then-8-week-old furry, four-legged creature (a dream 24-years-in-the-making come true!) Labour Day weekend, a story I shared in my September Tasting Diaries post.

All of this personal roller coaster aside, I still managed to have a “productive” year (though far shy of my goals) content-wise with in-depth tasting videos and written Substack posts (16 and soon-to-be 20, respectively). I also recorded three podcast episodes with wine writer David Furer for his podcast “Drinking on the Edge,” one of which (on the Finger Lakes) has already been released with others episodes to be released and new ones to be recorded in 2026. Finally, Cab Franc Chronicles also turned 5 this fall, which in itself is an exciting milestone.

Now, before I share some of my most memorable wines and moments of 2025, I wanted to highlight a few of the top posts from Instagram/YouTube and Substack from the last year for those that may have missed them.

From Instagram/YouTube (videos):

El Enemigo, 2012 Gran Enemigo “Gualtallary” Cabernet Franc, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (posted January 27)

Boundary Breaks, 2023 Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York, USA (posted April 8)

Loire Valley Cabernet Franc: 16 wines, 9 appellations (posted May 30)

From Substack:

2024 Cabernet Franc Global Vintage Report

Exploring Les Poyeux in Saumur-Champigny

Drinking On The Edge Podcast | Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc

My Most Memorable Cabernet Francs - 2025 Edition!

From the Loire Valley

Having spent as much time in the Loire as I did this year, I tasted a lot of incredible wines. I mean A LOT. I spent the last few days re-reading my notes and sifting through my phone looking at bottle shots hoping to narrow the over a thousand wines tasted this year to a mere handful of memorable bottles and moments. Not an easy task I’ll have you know! But here are some Loire Valley Cabernet Francs from the last year that I continue to dream about.

For the first time (and certainly not the last!) I was in the Loire for my birthday. Special occasions always add to the memorability factor for any wine, but the 2017 Anjou Rouge Cabernet Franc from Clau de Nell was really a stunning wine. Enjoyed at the restaurant La Route du Sel in Thoureil, on a gorgeous June evening, at a table overlooking the Loire River with my beau, this wine was at a terrific spot in its evolution, with layers of exotic spices and potpourri, finely structured and beautifully balanced. At around 40EUR on the list, what made this wine even more exceptional was how well it paired with our main course, which was a fragrant Moroccan-spiced lamb collar with salsa verde and yogurt. It was one of those absolutely delicious food and wine pairings that will remain at the top of my list for years to come.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to taste multiple vintages of the same cuvée with several Loire Valley domaines. But none quite as memorable as the 28-wine tasting with Christophe and Sandrine Deschampes of Domaine du Chêne Arrault in Bourgueil. On a rather unassuming Tuesday afternoon in July, Christophe, Sandrine and I went down into the depths of the domaine’s cave at the communal Caves du Grand Mont for three or so hours to taste through a selection of vintages of their Vieilles Vignes cuvée ranging from 2019 and concluding with the legendary 1947 vintage. It was a fascinating study in the ageability of Cabernet Franc and Loire Valley vintages for reds. Some of my favourite wines were from “lesser” or under-the-radar vintages, such as 1986 (often over-shadowed by 1985), proving that the combination of vigneron and vineyard is often more important than vintage, while some wines were unrivalled in their balance and “completeness,” (like the 1982 and 1976) highlighting that some vintages are crowned “great” vintages for a reason! This was a once-in-a-lifetime tasting I will never forget.

And then there are the wines that are memorable not because they are old, rare or from a special vintage, but are memorable simply because they are delicious. I’ve lost count of the number of times I enjoyed the 2023 “Eollithe” from Château de Fosse-Sèche this year. It became my unofficial “welcome home” wine that Alexandre and I would order at Brasserie de la Gare in Angers (fab restaurant, by the way!) after arriving to the Loire from Paris by train. I also had the pleasure of visiting with Guillaume at the domaine in June, where I came to appreciate on a whole new level the domaine’s unique terroir and their 360-degree approach to the “ecosystem” of the domaine from vineyard through to bottle. I also presented this wine at the masterclass I gave at La Paulée d’Anjou as an example from the unique Jurassic limestone soils of central Saumur. And as such, part of my enjoyment of this wine stems from the nerd that I am and appreciating how Cabernet Franc just “feels” different coming from the silex de Brossay soils. So, part intellectual, part emotional, but all pleasure in this expression of Cabernet Franc.

From Around the World

This year I discovered a most memorable and beautifully-made Cabernet Franc from perhaps one of the most unlikely places for the grape - Greece. While on a work trip to visit producers in our portfolio back in January, the second last night of the trip, the only night I had solo, I happened to stumble into the Heteroclito wine bar in Athens. And after 5 days without a single Cabernet Franc in sight, as if fate had intervened, there were not one but two Greek Cabernet Francs (both called “Tsapournakos”) on their wine list, a rosé by the glass and a library release red by the bottle, both from Ktima Voyatzi in the Velvento region in Northern Greece. While sipping on the 2023 Tsapournakos Rosé, I learned that “Tsapournakos” is the local name given to a once-unidentified red grape discovered in Kozani region of (Greek) Macedonia, which was preserved, nurtured and promoted by Dr. Yannis Voyatzis of Ktima Voyatzi. Later, thanks to DNA analysis, it was eventually discovered that Tsapournakos was, in fact, Cabernet Franc. As you can probably guess, as someone who has devoted her career learning about Cabernet Franc, I was excited as a kid on Christmas morning to have serendipitously discovered this wine and its story that night. And perhaps it goes without saying, but I bought a bottle of their rosé and the library release, the 2007 Tsapournakos, at the wine bar that night. And then the next day, I proceeded to go on an hour and a half pilgrimage to the suburbs of Athens to buy a bottle of their 2020 Tsapournakos to take home as well. Poured blind for a few Cabernet Franc enthusiasts back on Canadian soil, the 2007 Tsapournakos from Ktima Voyatzi not only did not disappoint, it exceeded my expectations. Crafted in a classic Bordeaux-inspired manner and perfectly matured, this was a pure, honest, thoughtfully-made expression of Cabernet Franc with lots of herbal and spice layers, fine, polished tannins, and beautifully balanced and integrated use of oak. So impressive.

My trip to South Africa earlier in December left a lasting impression, and I look forward to sharing all of my highlights and insights in a proper report in early 2026, but a recap of my 2025 wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention some memorable wines here. Firstly, from Raats Family Wines, their 2023 Vlag Vineyard Selection Cabernet Franc. This wine is one of the newest wines in the family’s Cabernet Franc range which is from select parcels in Polkadraai Hills representing the pinnacle of their work with the variety. I tasted and re-tasted this wine a few times throughout my week in South Africa, and now nearly a month later, I still can’t get it out of my head. I loved it for its gorgeous floral, red-fruited character, precision, polish and length.

While in South Africa, I tasted with a number of the country’s leading Cabernet Franc “specialists,” but it isn’t everyday you have the opportunity to explore a winemaker’s career retrospective with a single variety. It was a Cabernet Franc from Bourgueil’s Domaine de la Chevalerie that inspired Lukas Van Loggerenberg to start his winemaking journey, and in 2016 he launched his namesake winery, which was anchored by his appropriately-named “Breton” Cabernet Franc. Seated at Lukas’s dining room table, we tasted every vintage of his Breton, 2016 to 2024, and while doing so he chronicled how his style has evolved over the years with changes in vineyard sources, winemaking constraints and his winery’s success at home and abroad, while remaining true to his mission to make low-intervention, site-expressive wines. Lukas is a rising star winemaking talent in South Africa, and with wines like these, it is easy to see why. (Notes to follow in my upcoming report.)

Finally, in the category of memorable=delicious, a wine I have written about on a few occasions this year, the 2022 Elevation Cabernet from Vineland Estates Winery in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. I recommended it as part of a post on Ontario Cabernet Francs back in April, and again in October, and I also included it in my recommendations as part of a recent l-express.ca article written by podcaster Pierre Ferland. All of this is to say that this wine is, quite simply, a really yummy, pleasurable Cabernet Franc. And wine should be, above all else, about pleasure.

A Celebration of the Versatility of Cabernet Franc

One of the “pillars,” if you will, that I launched Cab Franc Chronicles on in 2020 was to highlight and celebrate how wonderfully versatile this grape is. While the vast majority of the wines made from Cabernet Franc are red, I would argue that there isn’t another red vinifera variety out there that has a range quite like Cabernet Franc - not the least of which are rosés, in dry, off-dry and sparkling form, but also blanc de noir styles in still and sparkling, red sparkling wines, and, as a proud Canadian I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention Icewine. This year I had the pleasure of tasting an unprecedented array of expressions from regions around the globe that seek to showcase the beauty and complexity of Cabernet Franc in a more creative way.

Some of the wines that really resonated with me this past year include the blanc de noir expressions from Fabien Duveau in Saumur-Champigny, his 2023 “Humelay” Blanc de Cabernet, from Long Island, Bedell Cellars’s 2024 White Cabernet Franc made by winemaker Marin Brennan, and from Stellenbosch, the 2025 Cabernet Franc Blanc de Noir from Rainbow’s End. In rosé form, I fell in love with the Crémant de Loire Rosé from the family estate Domaine du Clos de Lassay in Anjou, and also from Long Island, Macari Vineyards’s 2024 “Horses” Cabernet Franc Pet-Nat.

If there was doubt that Cabernet Franc rosé could age, my tastings this year defied that narrative. When made well, Cabernet Franc rosé can age just as well as a white wine, and also develop complexity over time. Some standout bottles I tasted this year included the 2014 Chinon Rosé from Olga Raffault, the 1989 Cabernet d’Anjou from Saumur-Champigny’s René-Noël Legrand, and possibly the rarest of them all, a 1947 Bourgueil Rosé that was part of the flight that concluded my aforementioned tasting with Christophe and Sandrine Deschamps of Domaine du Chêne Arrault.

Finally, and perhaps one of the most challenging non-traditional expressions of Cabernet Franc to do well, sparkling red. This year I fell head over heels for Arnaud Lambert’s NV l’Ardoisier, which is a demi-sec traditional method sparkling that sees upwards of four years on lees and is impeccably crafted and superbly balanced. I’ve been so intrigued by this style of Cabernet Franc that I hope to explore it further in 2026.

Looking Ahead…

As the year draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the developments in my personal life, as well as experiences, accomplishments and milestones for Cab Franc Chronicles, and I am left asking myself the existential question: “What’s Next...”

For the last five years, Cab Franc Chronicles has been a side hustle, if you will. I’ve devoted nearly all of my free time - evenings, weekends, vacation time - to this passion project. And I’m proud to say, I have a lot to show for this time and effort, and I have accomplished more than I ever expected to in five years. But I also know that there is a certain aspect of this “side hustle” mindset, knowing I always had a full-time job to fall back on, that has also held me back from realizing my dream “vision” for Cab Franc Chronicles.

So, all that said, I am going to make a go of it. It’s time to “turn pro,” to use athlete-speak. Do what you love, love what you do.

So what does that mean exactly for Cab Franc Chronicles? Well, I’m not really sure yet, to be honest. And I would be lying if I didn’t say that the idea of going “all in” is somewhat terrifying. But I have ideas that I am brainstorming and have started to work on, and plans that I’m putting in place, all with the hope of “levelling-up” what you can expect from Cab Franc Chronicles in the future. And this does not mean that I am becoming a “wine critic” per se (a question I often get asked). The wine world has enough critics, and I don’t believe that is my “role” in the world of Cabernet Franc and also in the wine world as a whole given the current of things. I want to add value, lift up, and support those who are as passionate about Cabernet Franc as I am, while also hoping to maybe inspire the small cohort of “wine curious” consumers to consider choosing a bottle Cabernet Franc for their next drinking occasion.

So, as I look ahead to 2026, my hope is there is a lot more in store for Cab Franc Chronicles. More content, more recommendations, more analysis, more education, more love for this humble grape.

And, as always, thank you for reading and watching, and for your continued support and enthusiasm for what I do, this journey, this project.