A legendary wine, the great Sweet or syrupy white wines of Bordeaux are known throughout the world. It is in this category that we find the famous Sauternes and the famous Château d'Yquem considered as one of the best white wines in the world. Why such a reputation? It is partly due to the development of a microscopic fungus, Botrytis cinerea, which causes, when conditions are favourable, the famous noble rot. But in this region, it is not enough for the Grapes to be ripe to be harvested.
Over-ripening and the development of botrytis cinerea are sought after. This fungus attacks both the interior and the skin of the grape, which wrinkles and takes on a brownish-purple colour. This leads to a concentration of sugars, an evaporation of water, as well as numerous modifications that will transform the grape Juice into a real "liqueur" whose richness can exceed 400 g of sugar per litre. However, the Sauternes region does not have a monopoly on botrytis cinerea, which is also found in the regions: Dordogne, Loire Valley, the sweet wines of Alsace, etc.
Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest red grape varieties in Bordeaux. The Libourne region is its terroir where it develops best. The terroirs of Saint-Emilion and Fronsac allow it to mature and develop its best range of aromas. It is also the majority in many blends. The very famous Château Cheval Blanc, for example, uses 60% Cabernet Franc. The wines produced with Cabernet Franc are medium in colour with fine tannins and subtle aromas of small red fruits and spices. When blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it brings complexity and a bouquet of aromas to the wine. It produces fruity wines that can be drunk quite quickly, but whose great vintages can be kept for a long time. It is an earlier grape variety than Cabernet Sauvignon, which means that it is planted as far north as the Loire Valley. In Anjou, it is also used to make sweet rosé wines. Cabernet Franc is now used in some twenty countries in Europe and throughout the world.
