Domaine Gayda Figure Libre Cabernet Franc, IGP Pays d'Oc, France 2020
‘Figure Libre’ epitomises the freedom to focus on grape varieties rarely grown in the Languedoc: Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. In 2004 we planted the grape varieties which we felt would be best suited, those most able to reveal the expression and the qualities of our Brugairolles sandstone terroir.
Pretty raspberry colour, brightened by blackcurrant highlights that immediately evoke an intense sensory experience.
On the nose, the wine offers a crisp, fruity experience, reminiscent of a basket of sun-drenched wild berries. Notes of redcurrant and blackberry dominate, creating a bewitching atmosphere.
On the palate, the first impression is of the vegetal characteristic of the Cabernet Franc grape yet the fruit still comes through strongly. The attack evokes a harmonious balance between freshness and liveliness. The taut mid-palate brings out notes of redcurrant and cherry, offering an elegant range of fruity flavours.
The finish, marked by firm tannins, is offset by the lovely vegetal character. The recognizable notes of green pepper mingle with delicate spices, notably coriander, to create its distinctive signature and add a layer of complexity to the whole.
Variety : 100% Cabernet Franc
"A Cab Franc that gives a triple scoop of Loire fragrance and graphite minerality, South African open-hearted sweetness, and Languedoc garrigue. The tannins feel like a weave of all three places: long Loire sinews on the vertical; plush, broad African velvet on the horizontal; muscular Languedoc plaiting the two together. It's sumptuous but beautifully restrained. Long with a whispery, aromatic breath of lavender on the finish.” 17/20 Jancis Robinson (GV), September 2023, Figure Libre Cabernet Franc 2021