He was still focused on cabernet sauvignon when a Kermit Lynch tasting in Berkeley introduced him to Loire’s Chinon, made entirely from cabernet franc. “No other grape variety approaches cabernet franc as the most interesting. Just last year the Livermore Valley Wine Community declared cabernet franc the region’s signature grape. Tuscany is not a place you think of for cabernet franc, but this version is a world-class standout. Blended with merlot and a little cabernet franc, petite verdot and malbec, this generous and velvety cabernet sauvignon shows off layers of red and black fruit with a dash of spice.