Clau de Nell : Cabernet Franc 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Cabernet Franc 2022 Clau de Nell

Tasting

Colour
This red wine from France reveals a garnet to ruby hue, both intense and brilliant, with subtle highlights marking a gentle evolution at the rim of the glass.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet proves complex and ever-evolving. It opens first with vibrant notes of fresh red fruits such as strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant, underscored by floral touches of violet and rose, along with mineral and peppery nuances. With aeration, deeper aromas of black fruits, liquorice and dried herbs emerge.

Palate
The attack is fresh and fluid, offering a velvety texture and remarkable transparency of flavours. With a medium body and an elegant structure, this wine rests on silky tannins and lovely natural acidity. The finish, remarkably long and mouth-watering, stands out with a chalky mineral imprint and hints of fresh herbs.

Food and wine pairing

This cuvée pairs beautifully with duck in a red fruit sauce, grilled lamb with Mediterranean herbs, or roasted white meats. It will also enhance beef dishes with mushrooms, smoked cured meats, seared tuna, or vegetarian dishes made with grilled aubergines.

Service and storage

For an optimal tasting experience, it is recommended to serve this Cabernet Franc 2022 at a temperature of 16°C, with an optional decanting of thirty minutes to an hour while it is young. This wine can be enjoyed now, but will continue to improve, drinking well through to around 2035.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 13% and holds Demeter certification, guaranteeing an entirely biodynamic farming approach.

The elegance and minerality of a great red wine from the Loire Valley

The estate

With a winemaking history spanning more than a century, the Clau de Nell estate is situated in the heart of the unspoilt countryside of the Loire Valley. Purchased in 2008 by the late Anne-Claude Leflaive and her husband Christian Jacques, who is now the estate's owner and director, the property spans 10 hectares. Renowned for its deep commitment to biodynamics, this vineyard produces authentic, elegant wines that reflect the purity of their terroir, under the technical guidance of Sylvain Potin.

The vineyard

Located in the sub-region of Anjou, the vineyard forms a single, south-facing plot. The vines, with an average age of 60 years, thrive on a clay-silt terroir composed of sandstone and red flint, resting on a bedrock of chalky tuffeau. The entire estate is farmed biodynamically, promoting biodiversity through natural cover cropping and the use of plant-based preparations, while maintaining deliberately low yields to ensure concentrated grapes.

The vintage

The year 2022 stands out as one of the hottest, sunniest and driest of the past three decades. Exceptional sunshine and high temperatures favoured optimal ripening of the berries, while the scarcity of rainfall called for rigorous soil management to support the vines through water stress.

Winemaking and aging

Following manual harvesting in small crates, the grapes for this Cabernet Franc 2022 are destemmed. Fermentation begins naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts, followed by a gentle maceration of twenty to thirty days with light punch-downs. After delicate pneumatic pressing, the wine is aged for twelve to eighteen months in Burgundian oak barrels that have already been used for several wines, within former troglodyte cellars. Bottling takes place without fining or filtration, on a fruit day according to the lunar calendar.

Grape variety

100% Cabernet Franc