£11.95, Berry Bros & Rudd
Polished, bright, blackcurrant fruit, herby, currant-leaf freshness and plush, cocoa richness – a lovely example of a grape variety that rarely got a look-in on wine labels until recently. Now wine growers who have Cabernet Franc can’t shout loudly enough about it. It’s always been in Bordeaux, playing third fiddle to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and in red Loires such as Chinon and Saumur, but suddenly it’s rocketed up the wine-grape charts. With its herbal note, this one is a star with fresh herbs, which puts lots of meat and vegetable dishes on its radar, including Turkish and Persian ones with fresh mint; or try it with asparagus baked with prosciutto, Parmesan and mint or basil.
Loma Larga Lomas del Valle Cabernet Franc 2012, Casablanca Valley, Chile
£11.95, Berry Bros & Rudd, bbr.com