Domaine Audebert & Fils Bourgueil Les Marquises 2015

Ah, Bourgueil! Cabernet franc may be a blending grape in Bordeaux and most other regions around the world, but here, in the heart of the Loire, cabernet franc is KING! The Audebert family, a Kermit Lynch find from decades past, is one of our favorite franc producers and this parcel from their 60-year-old vines is just mind-shatteringly wicked good juice. Normally $50, but here at First Bottle, we waived the magical wine wand to bring it to you for only $29.95!!! Better still – we’ll drop the price even further when you snag 6+ bottles – to just $24.95 each!

Yep, that’s a solid 50% OFF on some of the most highly-sought Loire cabernet franc in the world, and enough bottles to watch it evolve over the next few years, too! Sommeliers have been gobbling this up for years, and not just for the obvious quality, the unbelievable food friendliness, and the fascinating history, either...this wine is built to last! Similar to how the wine world recently learned that cru Beaujolais is one of the best aging dry red wines in the world, Bourgueil cabernet franc (locally dubbed cabernet breton) has the distinct capability to age for decades!

This 1.5-hectare site, where 60-year-old vines dominate, is set amongst a rich, clay, and limestone soil in the commune of Benais. The vineyard is known for producing the most powerfully structured wines in the Audebert portfolio, and vintages from three decades past are still drinking well today. Aging is not required, however, as the pure bright fruit notes, the red floral overtones, and the supple and spicy earth notes are all there to be enjoyed, even in its “youth” (at nearly nine years young already, many lesser Loire cabernet francs would be nearing the end of their life and not the beginning of maturity as this one is here!).

This remarkable wine is highly perfumed with hibiscus flowers, dried violets, and cranberry tea, followed by deeply flavored notes of fresh-made berry jam, cardamom, burdock root, clove, and cool spearmint. The finish is long, intense, and spicy, with notes of iron ore and smoked meats. Unbelievably complex and primordially satisfying, this is a cabernet franc that bridges the void between your prototypical Chinons and the rich, lush cabernet francs from Bolgheri, Napa, and Bordeaux’s Right Bank. For just $24.95 on 6+ bottles?!?! Don’t miss this!!!

PAIRING IDEAS: Disclaimer: I was making steak pinwheels before it was a TikTok trend. These meaty, salty and savory bites, really pop with this wine thanks to the basil pesto.