From: Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Tasting Notes: This bright, perfumed rosé shows notes of just-ripe summer raspberry, red cherry, grapefruit, orange zest, rose petal, and a dusting of white pepper. Round and zesty on the palate, which reveals a medley of red berry fruits buoyed by undercurrents of blood orange, a touch of spice, and a river rock minerality.
Pairing: Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc rosés are notable because they combine straightforward enjoyment and food-pairing excellence with the perfect balance between fruit and savory components and a thread of minerality that ties it all together even though they can vary significantly in taste, texture, and aroma. These versatile rosés pair wonderfully with fresh cheeses, trout Rillettes, salmon as lox or gravlax, BBQ unagi served as sushi, sashimi, or instead of chicken teriyaki (PS that also pairs wonderfully), charcuterie and fromage, picnic fare like fried chicken or ham and cheese (or butter) sandwiches, Chinese roast pork, siu yuk (Cantonese crispy pork belly), chicken/pork/tofu katsu, and even pizza (see recipe below).
Lavash Pizza With Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Goat Cheese
By Martha Rose Shulman
About. The Audebert family has been based in Bourgueil in 1839. The third generation of the family is now at the helm of the Domaine, which today cultivates 40+ hectares of vineyards planted in Bourgueil, Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil, and Chinon. Here François and the team grow Cabernet Franc on a mix of sand, gravel, siliceous clay, and clay limestone (tuffeau). François’ love of Cabernet Franc coupled with the use of traditional techniques results in a collection of outstanding wines.
This 2023 Domaine Audebert Bourgueil Rosé is made from a total of three hectares of vines planted on windblown sandy soils in the municipality of Benais. Located about halfway up the slope that leads down to the Loire river, these vines are an average of 15-20 years old. Harvest is done all by hand, and the wine ferments using indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
