In the glass
Aroma: wild raspberry, rose petal, wet stone, iris
Palate: red cherry, fine-grained tannin, saline mineral, long ethereal finish
Bottled from ungrafted Cabernet Franc planted on sand soils. Lighter-footed and more aromatic than the limestone cuvees, with rose and wild raspberry over a fine-grained mineral spine.
What it pairs with
-
Roast partridge with bread sauce
Delicate game bird and the wine's aromatic, ethereal lift align. -
Veal medallions with morels
Cream and mushroom meet the wine's fine-grained tannin and saline length. -
Sainte-Maure de Touraine on toast
Ash-rolled goat cheese and the wine's saline lift refresh each other.
History
Franc de Pied is bottled from Thierry Germain's ungrafted Cabernet Franc parcel, planted on sand soils that escaped phylloxera. The wine offers a reference for pre-phylloxera, ungrafted Cabernet Franc expression.
- 2005 — First vintage of Franc de Pied (ungrafted)
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine des Roches Neuves
- Grapes
- Cabernet Franc (100%)
- Classification
- Saumur-Champigny AOC
- Oak
- 16 to 18 months in old oak demi-muids, no new oak
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 60 to 110 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2005
- Biodynamic
- Demeter Certified
- Organic
- DEMETER
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Vinous 93 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Franc de Pied
What does Franc de Pied taste like?
Wild raspberry, rose petal, wet stone and iris on the nose; red cherry, fine-grained tannin, saline mineral and a long ethereal finish on the palate. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and high acidity.
When should I drink Franc de Pied?
Drink between 8 and 25 years from vintage. Decant 45 to 60 minutes for young vintages.
What food pairs with Franc de Pied?
Roast partridge with bread sauce, veal medallions with morels, and Sainte-Maure de Touraine on toast are all canonical matches.
What grapes are in Franc de Pied?
100 percent Cabernet Franc, from ungrafted pre-phylloxera-style vines planted on sand soils at Domaine des Roches Neuves.