2020 Anjou, Cabernet Franc, Clau de Nell, Loire

Domaine Clau de Nell

The late Anne-Claude Leflaive, a world-renowned Burgundian Chardonnay producer, bought Domaine Clau de Nell in 2008 with her husband, Christian Jacques. Already identified as an up-and-coming Estate, having superb terroir and vines over 60 years old on average with some over 100 years, Anne Claude and her team heightened the Domaine to a new dimension.

The 8 hectares of Cabernet Franc, Grolleau, and Cabernet Sauvignon have been biodynamic since 2000. The team is making four different cuvees: Grolleau (an indigenous variety from the Loire), Cabernet Franc, Violette (both Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon), and finally a Chenin with a Burgundian flair.

Anjou-Saumur

Anjou-Saumur is a Mid-west Loire region most famous for the fine sweet Chenin Blanc wines of Bonnezeaux, Coteaux du Layon (including the exemplary - if tiny- Quarts de Chaume appellation) and Coteaux de l'Aubance. 

The bulk of the wines produced in the Anjou region comprise the bland `Rosé d'Anjou' (made from the Grolleau grape) and marginally better Cabernet d'Anjou; Some smoky dry Anjou Chenin Blanc also produced. 

The Saumur region's bread and butter is its Mousseux, while it also produces some dry Saumur Chenin (similar to Anjou's version) and some impressive Cabernet Franc, chalky dry thanks to the `tuffeau' soils.

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is widely planted in Bordeaux and is the most important black grape grown in the Loire. In the Médoc it may constitute up to 15% of a typical vineyard - it is always blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is used to add bouquet and complexity to the wines. It is more widely used in St.Emilion where it adapts well to the cooler and moister clay soils - Cheval Blanc is the most famous Cabernet Franc wine in the world, with the final blend consisting of up to 65% of the grape.

Cabernet Franc thrives in the Loire where the cooler growing conditions serve to accentuate the grape's herbaceous, grassy, lead pencil aromas. The best wines come from the tuffeaux limestone slopes of Chinon and Bourgeil where growers such as Jacky Blot produce intense well-structured wines that possess excellent cellaring potential.