2005 Domaine des Corbillières Touraine Cabernet

What do you drink with burgers? Zinfandel or Barbera. But what about a Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley? This soft, peppery Touraine rouge from Domaine des Corbillières near Tours is made from vines planted more than 50 years ago by winemaker Dominique Barbou’s grandfather Maurice and his great-grandfather Fabel. And these old vines produce a beguiling Cabernet Franc. (Though the label reads Cabernet, the wine is 100% Cabernet Franc.) Deep purple-red in color, the 2005 Touraine Cabernet is aromatic and expressive, with a silky texture and a taste of spice and plums. Hard to believe it costs so little, but that’s because Loire Valley reds are undervalued.

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Quick swirl

Region: Loire Valley

Price: About $11

Style: Young and juicy.

Food it goes with: Grilled meats, roast chicken or duck, hamburger

Where you find it: The Wine Country in Signal Hill, (562) 597-8303, www.thewinecountry.com; Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, www.hitimewine.net; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454 and (800) 76-WINEX, www.winex.com.

--S. Irene Virbila