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Cabernet Franc, 2018

Shipped and sold by Leaning Post Wines

2018 Niagara Peninsula 750 mL, 14% ALC/VOL
$45.20
Cabernet Franc
Critic's Rating 90 pts

Tasting Notes

The 2018 vintage had a slightly cool start but was otherwise warm throughout. The heat continued well into harvest, although some rather heavy rain events made the harvest somewhat challenging. Overall, the warmth lasted well into late October giving Cabernet Franc plenty of time to fully ripen. The nose shows immediate mulberry, blackberry, cassis and raspberry while the background shows sweet tobacco-leaf, leather, mocha, panchetta and cardamom. This wine is extremely perfumey and elegant, yet rich, bold and powerful. The palate shows real finesse combined with rich, round and apparent tannins giving this wine immense structure and agebility. The balance of red and black fruits with smoked-meat, leather and tobacco surrounded by flavourful spices really elevates Niagara Cabernet Franc to the heights we think it deserves. This will easily age for the next 8-10 years. If you drink it now, try it with hard cheeses like a well aged Cheddar, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano or with roasted red meat.

Winemaking Notes

The grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted on October 29th, destemmed and left to cold soak on skins prior to fermentation. The fermentation started spontaneously in small open-top fermenters with the skins being punched-down by hand 2 times per day. Once fermentation was finished, the wine remained on skins for 6 days before being gently pressed. It was then transferred to French and American oak barrels (40% new) and aged for 20 months. The 2018 Cabernet Franc was bottled on September 10, 2020.

Critic's Rating

90pts
The Wismer-Foxcroft vineyard in the Twenty Mile Bench subappellation of the Niagara Peninsula is the source for the fruit in this cabernet franc, which offers blackberry, tart raspberry, leafy and meaty spice aromas, with just a hint of bell pepper. It's full-bodied and grippy, bringing the above flavours on the palate with medium tannins and a dash of vanilla bean thanks to 20 months aging in French and American oak. Deliciously drinkable now but can be put away for 4-6 years.
- Ben Sigurdson
  • National Wine Awards of Canada 2022, Silver Medal National Wine Awards of Canada 2022, Silver Medal
  • Connoisseur Note(s):

    Pretty floral aromatics with ripe raspberry, black cherry and graphite. There's a slightly savoury tomato paste character. This wine had great balance and structure that will allow it to age over the next 5-10 years.

    - Matt Wentzell

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    • National Wine Awards of Canada 2022, Silver Medal