Spring Highlights and a Look Ahead at What's to Come
No.57
April has arrived and hopefully wherever you are (in the Northern Hemisphere at least!) the first signs of spring and warmer weather have started to appear. The winter in Ontario was long but productive for me, so I thought I would take a moment to highlight some of my recent posts in case there were any that you missed.
In recent weeks, I have featured a diverse selection of wines and regions in my tasting videos:
From St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, I profiled Domaine Frédéric Mabileau and their 2020 “Les Coutures.” This is an estate that I’ve become quite fond of in recent visits to the Loire, not only for their characterful range of wines, but also for their superb restaurant Chez Odette, which I highly recommend checking out if you are in the region.
From Chile, Viña Maquis was one of the first in the country to put Cabernet Franc front and centre with their flagship wine, the Maquis Franco. In my tasting video, I share their story and highlight their work with the grape across their two estates in the sub-regions of Palmilla and Marchigüe in the Colchagua Valley.
While Chinon is one of the Loire Valley’s most well-known and historic regions for Cabernet Franc, the region has seen some outside investment in recent years. Domaine de la Chapelle is a historic domaine in Cravant-les-Côteaux that is embarking on an exciting new chapter with its recent acquisition by real estate developer Laurent Dumas. I profiled their 2023 “Les Lutteurs” in a recent video.
The Finger Lakes is emerging as one of the key regions for Cabernet Franc in the eastern United States. Boundary Breaks embarked on their thoughtful and ever-evolving journey with the grape in 2013, and I profiled the estate and their 2023 Cabernet Franc in a recent video. The winery’s founder, Bruce Murray, also has a terrific Substack for those that are interested.
Here on Substack, you can find some of my most recent features below:
Also from the Finger Lakes, I profiled up-and-coming producer Usonia Wine and their recent releases.
I have barely scratched the surface when it comes to Anjou and Cabernet Franc, but it has been exciting to follow the journey of Carole Kohler and Jardins de Fleury, who is reviving a once-thriving viticultural estate in Thouars.
Les Poyeux is one of the most famous (if not THE most famous) vineyards for Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley. In my recent Substack post, I profiled this vineyard and did a deep dive into its terroir.
For my Canadian readers, I highlighted some of my top picks from the Niagara Peninsula based on some of my recent tastings.
Looking Ahead
While the weather is improving and I’m itching to get outdoors, I am continuing to work on a number of upcoming posts and videos. Here on Substack, in the weeks ahead I will be publishing my report on the 2024 vintage, as well as some terroir deep dives on vineyards like La Croix Boissée in Chinon. I will also be starting a monthly feature sharing my tasting notes on what I’ve been drinking and tasting, which will mostly include a diverse selection of Cabernet Francs from my personal cellar.
In video form, I have a number of interesting features coming up including an introduction to Domaine des Sables Verts in Saumur-Champigny and a look back on an older vintage Anjou Rouge from Pierre Ménard, as well as wines from Zuccardi in Argentina and Emiliano Falsini in Italy.
I have also recently begun a collaboration with my friend David Furer’s podcast Drinking On The Edge where I will be co-hosting a miniseries on Cabernet Franc featuring a number of regions and producers. The first episode on the Finger Lakes should be released later this month, with episodes on Virginia and Washington State slated for release later this summer.
Finally, I will be back in my beloved Loire Valley twice later this spring. First for Loire Millésime, the InterLoire’s annual trade and media event, which is taking place this year in Nantes on May 15th. I will also be back for La Paulée d’Anjou in June, where I am honoured to be a part of this year’s 13th edition of the event.
That is the latest from my little corner of the world! This project is a labour of love and it is all possible thanks to the support from folks like you. So, thank you for reading (and watching) and for your continued enthusiasm and support.
P.S. Pro tip! Always make sure you stash away a bottle (or two) of your favourite rosé so that you can be ready to enjoy it with your loved ones when that first spring-like day arrives. I enjoyed this 2021 Chinon Rosé from Olga Raffault over the weekend and it was an absolute delight!
