Domaine Bobinet 'Hanami' 2020

Jackson’s Notes: This wine was not supposed to be offered out. In fact, not enough of it was due to arrive in the US to even make it to our supplier, but the winds of fate shifted in a positive direction for once, and now we have this excellent, quaffable Cabernet Franc to share with you.

Domaine Bobinet is a joint project between Emeline Calvez and Sébastien Bobinet. They are both students of low-intervention wine, having absorbed winemaking knowledge through time in Parisian restaurants and through speaking with disciples of the greats like Jean Foillard and Marcel Lapierre–including Emeline and Sébastien’s wine mentor, Bernard Pontonnier.

Sébastien was able to take over his grandparents’ winery after their retirement, and to bring Emeline on as partner in the project. They’ve quickly established a name for Bobinet, making pure and unvarnished wines, with a focus on their home region of Saumur-Champigny.

This Hanami red is a great example of clean yet expressive Cabernet Franc. It bursts out of the glass with ripe cherry fruit, smoky raspberries, fresh topsoil and crushed violets. Vegetal notes of sage blossom and red bell pepper make a strong case for this being a food wine. It finishes juicy and bright and cheerful, and makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Cabernet Franc.