Loire Valley cabernet franc from Le Pavillon de Targe leads red wine offer that includes Bordeaux merlot, Italian Barbaresco and Portugese touriga nacional
More than 350 wines were available for tasting at a London wine festival this month but this unique red scored the gong. Here’s a chance to taste it yourself.
Over the past year I’ve tasted more than 200 wines for The Australian Wine Club but this is the one that stopped me in my tracks.
It’s a single-varietal cabernet franc from France’s Loire Valley and there’s a uniqueness to its perfume of roses and violets mingling with rustic herbs and spices that has me mesmerised. There’s concentrated red fruit flavours but they’re carried with a silkiness and lightness that surprises me.
The Le Pavillon de Targe 2017 is one of the stars of a limited offer from The Australian Wine Club this week – six aged international reds, many of them imported exclusively by our wine partner, Laithwaites.
I’m not an experienced cabernet franc drinker – there are relatively few Australian examples – but only days after being impressed by the Le Pavillon de Targe, it was voted wine of the show at Laithwaites’ annual festival in London where more than 350 wines were available for tasting.
More than 6000 people attended the festival – all those palates can’t be wrong!
“People just love those beautiful floral aromatics but there’s a smokiness and meatiness and pepper that adds all this savouriness and complexity,’’ Laithwaites Loire Valley specialist Samuel Fishlock says.
Château de Targé, in Loire’s celebrated Saumur-Champigny subregion, has been in the same family, the Pisani-Ferrys, since 1655. Yes – that’s 368 years of family ownership.
Right now, a changing of the guard is under way: the 2017 vintage saw Paul Pisani-Ferry take over winemaking duties from his father, Edouard. While the family’s winemaking experience in the Loire is priceless, Paul also brings to the winery his own training in the “new world”, including California, South Africa and Argentina.
Already, Paul has overseen the vineyard’s transformation to full organic status and his light touch to winemaking elevates the unique flavours of cabernet franc.
Cabernet franc, a varietal champion of the Loire, along with sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc, ripens earlier than its more famous cousin, cabernet sauvignon, making it well-suited to cool climates. Compared to cabernet sauvignon, it creates wines that are lighter bodied and less tannic but, while they can be enjoyed soon after bottling, cabernet franc wines can also age well.
In the oft-quoted words of an unnamed Loire Valley winemaker, fine old cabernet franc wines express aromas reminiscent of a forest after a rainstorm.
This aged international dozen is a magnificent treat for wine explorers prepared to venture away from the familiar tastes of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.
So elevate your senses – and remember, if you don’t fall for these beautiful, exotic wines, our wine club offers a money-back guarantee.
Rose and violet aromas entice, along with leafy herbs, green pepper and spice. Silky red fruits (cranberry and raspberry) and earthy notes flow across the light- to medium-bodied palate, powered by tangy acidity to a long finish. A taste sensation. 13% alc; RRP $35 a bottle.
SPECIALS $27.99 a bottle in any dozen; $33.99 a bottle in international reds dozen.
Chateau Les Grands Marechaux Blaye 2012
This 11-year-old merlot from Bordeaux is in grand form, opening with mellow cassis and soft black fruits with touches of cedar and leather. Influential American wine judge Robert Parker Jr wrote: “A complete mouthfeel from beginning to end.” 13.5% alc; RRP $45 a bottle.
SPECIALS $37.99 a bottle in any dozen; $33.99 a bottle in international reds dozen.
Like Barolo, Barbaresco wines are made from nebbiolo but are generally more approachable at a younger age. You’ll find lovely cherry aromas here, with hints of Turkish delight and vanilla. Silky tannins carry generous cherry and raspberry flavours. Pure pleasure. 14% alc; RRP $50 a bottle.
SPECIALS $42.99 a bottle in any dozen; $33.99 a bottle in international reds dozen.
Baronesa de Vilar Port Finish 2018
A rich, dark and spicy Portuguese red to appeal to lovers of medium- to full-bodied reds bursting with flavour. Dark berries, violets and savoury aromas, hinting at flavours of Christmas cake, cherry compote, almonds, vanilla and sweet spice. A touch of port wine at the back. Velvety finish. Gold at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition in 2020. 14% alc; RRP $35 a bottle
SPECIALS $25.99 a bottle in any dozen; $33.99 a bottle in international reds dozen.
Selvarossa dei Confratelli 2018
From Italy’s Puglia region in the sunny south comes a flagship blend led by negroamaro grapes. A luscious easy-drinking wine; aromas of cherry jam, dates, vanilla and licorice are irresistible. 14.5% alc; RRP $44 a bottle.
SPECIALS $38.99 a bottle in any dozen; $33.99 a bottle in international reds dozen.
Kilikanoon Morrison Clare Valley Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Our Australian entry to the aged international dozen is a powerful blend of shiraz and cabernet, showing Clare’s blue and black fruit spectrum against savoury tones of cedar and spice. Won gold at Decanter World Wine Awards; rated 96 points by Ray Jordan at Winepilot. 14.5% alc; RRP $55 a bottle.
SPECIALS $44.99 a bottle in any dozen; $33.99 a bottle in international reds dozen.
AGED INTERNATIONAL DOZENTwo bottles of each wine above for $33.99 a bottle.
Order online or telephone 1300 765 359 Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm AEST. Deals are available only while stocks last. The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaites Wine, LIQP770016550.
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