Domaine Yannick Amirault, Val de Loire Franc Secret 2025 White

Domaine Yannick Amirault’s Franc Secret is an unusual Loire Valley blanc de noirs made entirely from Cabernet Franc. Created by pressing the grapes directly without crushing or maceration, it reveals the variety in a fresh, pale and unexpectedly aromatic white-wine style—an intriguing contrast to Cabernet Franc’s more familiar red expression.

Tasting Notes
The wine has a luminous golden hue, reflecting the gentle direct-pressing process and the natural colour contribution of the grape skins. Its aroma is distinctive and quietly expressive, combining the openness of Cabernet Franc with delicate fruit and subtle, winey notes shaped by fermentation and lees ageing. On the palate, Franc Secret is soft, fresh and rounded, with a supple texture and a quietly layered character. Full alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, followed by maturation on the lees in conical wooden vats, gives the wine additional depth without masking its bright, unusual personality. It is particularly appealing in its youth, while careful cellaring should allow its texture and aromatic complexity to develop further.

Production
The Cabernet Franc grapes are carefully sorted before being pressed slowly and directly in a pneumatic press, without destemming, crushing or maceration. After cold settling overnight, the clear juice is racked into wooden vats the following day, where it undergoes complete alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The wine is then matured on its lees in conical wooden vats, contributing a rounded mouthfeel and added complexity while preserving the grape’s distinctive character.

Food & Serving
Serve Franc Secret lightly chilled at around 10–12°C. Its soft texture and subtle aromatic profile make it a versatile partner for oysters, shellfish, grilled fish, seafood risotto, fresh goat’s cheese and lightly seasoned poultry. Decanting is not normally necessary, although a brief opening before serving can help reveal its unusual Cabernet Franc-derived aromas.

Producer
Domaine Yannick Amirault is a respected family domaine in the Bourgueil area of the Loire Valley, a region particularly associated with Cabernet Franc. The estate is known for expressive, terroir-focused wines that combine traditional craftsmanship with a sensitive approach to vineyard and cellar work. Franc Secret demonstrates the domaine’s willingness to explore Cabernet Franc beyond its classic red-wine identity, presenting the variety in a rare and captivating white form.

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