'Les Nivières' Cabernet Franc Saumur 2016 •

This ‘Les Nivières’ French beauty which comes from the banks of the Loire in the castle town of Saumur is a fresh, vibrant Cabernet Franc and I must say it’s one of the better examples of this grape variety that I’ve tasted in a while. Waitrose & Partners currently have it on offer at £7.49 (normal price £9.49) which is fantastic value for a wine of this quality.

Cabernet Franc most commonly found as part of a Bordeaux blend (along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) tends to give a herbal structure with a certain amount of finesse. This is very much the case with the ‘Les Nivières’ it’s soft, almost perfumed, very fruit forward, mild silky tannins and a good amount of acidity giving it a really fresh taste.

Mainly red fruits, leap out when sticking your nose in the glass, on first sip, there are strawberry and cherries with a little sweet spice in the background. As I said earlier the tannins are minimal which makes it instantly approachable and a brilliant pairing for most food types, there is a mouth-watering acidity which adds freshness and a silky finish which lasts.

Overall a lovely wine, not normally something I tend to drink as it’s a bit light for me but of its kind it’s a quality wine for a decent price and I very much enjoyed it.