Chateau de Ribebon 2018 Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux Superieur

On Bordeaux’s Right Bank, overlooking the Dordogne River and the village of Pessac-sur-Dordogne, the clay-limestone soils of the Ribebon hamlet plateau form the basis of Château de Ribebon Cabernet France Bordeaux Supérieur. The vines have a full southern sun exposure, allowing for maximum sun to help bring the fruit to full ripeness. The plateau’s clay and limestone soils offer nutritional balance and allow the vines to adapt to climatic variation.

The Alain Aubert family come from the winemaking tradition of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. For several decades now, Alain, his wife Bernadette, and their three daughters have fine-tuned and perfected their craft which shows admirably in this wine from the outstanding 2018 vintage. This is the top wine from Chateau de Ribebon, this majority Cabernet Franc blend (85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot) showcases this classic Right Bank grape variety’s expression. Although Merlot is the most widely planted grape on the Right Bank, Cabernet Franc plays a leading role in the First Growth Chateau Cheval Blanc and in Chateau Teyssier's stupendous Le Dome among others. Many of these majestic vines offering fruit for this wine are over 60 years old, drawing mineral undertones from the limestone into the wine, along with deep, ripe fruit notes.

The grapes are hand-selected parcel by parcel and sorted both in the vineyard and again at the winery. Oak-aged for eighteen months, this wine is all about the mouthwatering taste of Cabernet Franc grown in ideal circumstances. Peppery aromas and a medium-high acidity make it remarkably refreshing.

International Wine Report scored this 92 points saying "The 2018 Cabernet Franc from Château Ribebon begins with fresh, inviting aromas of dark cherries and cassis followed by spices, loam, wild flowers and herbs which all take shape. Palate is medium-bodied and structured with silky tannins framed by a beautiful touch of acidity providing a wonderful sense of freshness through the finish. Showing a lovely sense of elegance, this also has the structural backbone to age beautifully for at least a decade."