Kacaba Vineyards only ships products within Canada.
Reserve Cabernet Franc, 2020
Shipped and sold by Kacaba Vineyards
All grapes for this full bodied wine were harvested were hand picked and hand sorted at an average of 24 brix, more reminiscent of California rather than a cool climate. This top quality fruit was destemmed, but minimally crushed. Then it underwent a cold-soak before being inoculated for primary fermentation. During fermentation the cap was hand plunged to extract colour and tannin two to three times daily. After a lengthy maceration period the wine was gently racked and the skin and seeds were gently pressed. The wine was then permitted to rest for 24 hours, to settle before being racked into a mixture of French and American oak barrels. The Franc then rested for just over one year without racking or stirring before finally being bottled.
This wine delivers a cascade of powerful aromas and flavours. Notes of ripe blueberries, black cherries, dried figs, and fresh cut herbs are supplemented by floral notes of violets, baking spice and light hints of campfire smoke. Enjoy a voluptuous palate with rich yet velvety tannins, fresh acidity and a long lingering finish. Great weight and intensity will allow it to age for several years.
Critic's Rating
Decanter World Wine Awards 2021, Bronze Medal
Decanter World Wine Awards 2023, Gold Medal
2023 All Canadian Wine Championships, Gold
Connoisseur Note(s):
Rich, luscious aromas of dark cherry/berry fruit—blueberry, boysenberry, cassis and black juicy Bing cherry juxtaposed with tangy pie cherry. A stream of fruit-driven palate-flavours with the following to the fore—ripe Saskatoon berries, tangy passionfruit, ripe black cherries and plenty of tang and pizzazz underpinned with smooth soft tannin and savoury oak after 19 months of French and American barrel ageing. The finish and aftertaste meld nicely along with svelte tannin. Pour alongside medium-rare skirt steak. 94 points — Vic Harradine, winecurrent.com
***** - I hesitate to say 'the best' - but this is without a doubt one of the finest bottles of Cabernet Franc made in Ontario to date. The concentration, and depth of flavours mated with balanced acidity. The nose is refreshing notes of cherry, and raspberry. The franc'ness is restrained but present with notes of tobacco subtly mingling with the rich fruit notes. Cocoa notes pop on the back palate as the short well integrated tannins roll off the back of your tongue like silk. Bold, and Elegant - this is everything you could ask for if you love Ontario Cabernet Franc. I would wait for the tannin to integrate a bit further before this wine is truly going to rock - the sample bottle provided by Kacaba was revisited over 4 days with continued improvement. Drink 2026-2040. — André Proulx, andrewinereview.ca
