There is veracity this March in the saying, “In like a lion and out like a lamb.” We can only hope the remainder will hold true. The grapevines have undergone some very low temperatures this winter, though we remain optimistic that they will endure. The vines have been dormant for some time, and pruning is well underway, with just a few breaks due to this stormy weather.
Pruning of grapevines is a fundamental practice and to say the least is carried out to ensure grape quality and vine fruitfulness. Grapes bear fruit on the green shoots that arise from one-year-old canes. Pruning is based on producing fruit in the current season, and renewing young canes for the next year. The old canes that produced fruit last season will not produce again.
This month, I am happy to share a new wine, the 2015 Cabernet Franc crafted from Chilean grapes. This wine is bursting with black berries and spice. It is medium-bodied with higher acidity and lower tannins making it quite the food friendly wine. The natural high acidity of the Cabernet Franc grape allows it to stand up to dishes that are tomato or vinegar based and its rich herbaceous profile beckons to match it to a dish with fresh herbs.