Leah Jørgensen, Blanc de Cabernet Franc - Oregon, 2022
Fast Facts:
Winemaker(s): Leah Jørgensen
Region: Applegate Valley -> Oregon -> USA
Varietal(s): 100% Cabernet Franc
Terroir: Gravelly loam & granitic soil
Serving Temp: 45-50°F
Leah Jørgensen is a beloved wine nerd in all of the nicest ways. Her career started in DC selling natural Loire wines for Louis Dressner Selections, a longtime darling importer that Field still actively buy from. Leah fell hard for the winemaking cene, and moved to Oregon in 2004 to give it a real try for herself. And WOW did it work! After years working harvests and learning the ropes at places like Shea Wine Cellars and Anne Amie Vineyards, she launched her own label in 2011.
Leah became quite the Oregon sensation when THIS exact wine came out – her Blanc de Cabernet Franc was the first still white Cabernet Franc outside of the Loire. The inspiration came from Crémant de Loire bubbly that use Cab Franc in a blanc de noir style, but she went rogue and made it still. Blanc de noir wines are made fully from red grapes, however instead of any skin maceration they press the grapes immediately and get the juice off the skins before any color can develop, then it goes through a brief barrel ferment to give it an extra textural rich vibe.
The 2022 comes from Mae's Vineyard in the Applegate Valley - organically farmed, LIVE certified, trained on V-trellises that split the canopy for perfect sun exposure. Fermented in neutral oak, then stirred on the lees in stainless to build that texture while keeping everything fresh.
Why'd we pick it?
This is truly a one-of-a-kind wine - Leah started a cool trend in the USA for embracing Cabernet Franc's potential as a white wine, with producers jumping aboard including one of our favorites, Michael Savage of Savage Grace. Plus, Leah's entire program is Loire-inspired but distinctly Oregon, and she's been quietly killing it for over a decade. This wine is also proof that you can take a "red grape" and do something completely unexpected with it.
Field Notes
- Tastes like: Tart golden raspberries, Meyer lemon, apricot, white tea. Maybe some tarragon? Almonds?! Bright acid with a touch of that classic pyrazines you find in Cabernet Franc showing off some green pepper and jalapeño. Just a wee bit!
- Serve it cold! Keep it in the fridge <3
- Food Pairings: Definitely lean into an herby, rich, creamy sitch. A roasted chicken with a saucy tarragon-cream-mustard-lemon thing would be gorgeous. Yes, mustard, babe. Winter risotto with roasted squash, garlic, and loads of parmesan. Throw some chili crisp on there for funsies.
