Laroque, Cabernet Franc 2016, IGP Cité de Carcassonne, France

Tasting Note: A basic cabernet franc without the grape’s signature varietal typicity.

Deep-intensity purple in color, this wine has a medium-intensity nose of black plum, black cherry, dust and rosehip.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus-bodied cabernet franc has medium-intensity, black-fruit flavors suggested on the nose.

A basic cabernet franc that you could probably find served by the glass at a neighborhood bistro in France, but wouldn’t recognize it as cabernet franc based on taste alone.

See review of 2017 vintage.

Bottle Note: 100% Cabernet Franc. Laroque [la roke] which means “the rock,” is produced from vineyards located in the hills of the famous ancient fortified city of Carcassonne in southern France. The grapes used to make Laroque come from vineyards that have been making wine since the 6th century. Laroque is an easy-to-drink wine that combines the structure, minerality and dusty rose characteristics of cabernet franc with the lively, fruitiness of wines from the south of France. Domaine Laroque is a medium-bodied, fresh and fruity wine with luscious flavors of red berry fruits and vanilla. Enjoy it alone or paired with Mediterranean cuisine, pasta, lamb, chicken, pizzas and hamburgers.