Celebrating Oregon Wine Month with White Cabernet Franc from Leah Jorgensen

May is Oregon Wine Month and I missed sharing these wines today for Cabernet Franc Day so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to highlight the wines of Leah Jorgensen.  I've always been a fan of Cabernet Franc from when I first began enjoying wine from my visits to the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York.  I must admit I need to learn more about French wines as I’m sure they have many gems when it comes to Cabernet Franc as well.  I always have enjoyed Pinot Noir from Oregon, but was pleased to receive some wines from Leah Jorgensen and to discover that Cabernet Franc is her pride and joy.  She even makes a Blanc de Cabernet Franc!  Yes, you heard that right, a white Cabernet Franc! 

The Winery ~ Leah Jorgensen 

Leah Jorgensen Jean, owner and winemaker of Leah Jorgensen Cellars, has always had agriculture and winemaking in her blood. She grew up on a small farm near Eugene, OR and has Italian heritage from her mother’s family whom has been making wine in Italy since the 1700’s.  Her goal is to eventually buy back the land from the farm she grew up on, plant vines and name them after her grandparents.  

Copyright of Leah Jorgensen Cellars

She began her wine career in Washington DC at a wine shop before moving on to work for a Virginian winery, Chrysalis Vineyard.   She then moved on to working for a distributor before relocating to the Oregon wine scene in 2004.  She studied enology for 2 years at the North West Viticulture Center in Salem and moved on to work for a number of wineries there including Erath Vineyards, St. Michelle Wine Estates, Anne Amie Vineyards and Adelsheim Vineyards to name a few.  

In venturing off to produce her own wines her pride and joy is Cabernet Franc. She prefers to make these wines in the Loire style from her influence of the days of when she worked for Louis Dressner Selections. She partners and works closely with a number of farmers that are organic, LIVE certified and Salmon Safe. The grapes are all hand harvested and she sources grapes from the Willamette Valley and Southern Oregon.  

The Wine 

I have to say this was the first white Cabernet Franc I had ever seen and I was digging it. Leah was the first commercial producer of still Cabernet Franc back in 2011. She wanted to “do something different and turn heads” and that it does!

The 2020 Leah Jorgensen Mae’s Vineyard Blanc de Cabernet Franc is made from 100% Cabernet Franc grapes from Applegate Valley in Oregon.  The wine was a glimmering light golden color with a tinge of pink.  Quite aromatic with aromas of wild strawberries, stone fruit with a hint of lemon citrus.  Crisp, clean and refreshing on the palate with citrus notes including blood oranges.  A wine with good body with the flavors and a tingling acidity lasting through to the finish.  Leah suggests pairing this wine with seafood dishes as the bright acidity in the wine pair well the dishes.  ABV 13% SRP $30 

What are your thoughts on Cabernet Franc and where do some of your favorite grow? 

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*This wine was provided as a sample, but opinions are always my own.