2020 Cabernet Franc

"The Similkameen is an exciting place to grow cabernet franc, and the latest from Corcelettes joins the party. All of the fruit, picked on October 25, is tended, harvested, and sorted by hand. The fermentation ran 26 days, and the wine spent 18 months in French oak barrels (30 percent new). The nose and palate have a similar sweet black fruit character mixing black cherries, black raspberries, and licorice, with savoury, minty, tobacco poking through a dense tannin finish. There is no rush to drink this one. A classic steak wine, or take with grilled vegetables in the fall and winter. The Corcelettes Estate Vineyard is on the Upper Bench in Keremeos and is a mix of alluvial Stemwinder soils and gravelly sandy loam Similkameen soils. An advantageous south facing setting helps at the end of the growing season as the temperatures dip down." - Anthony Gismondi "This is a very substantial and concentrated cabernet franc from the Similkameen Valley, with lovely dark fruit flavours and voluptuous texture. Barrel ageing character is beautifully integrated even at this early stage of development, while tannins are abundant, ripe and plush, held together by sufficient acids and a gently saline tug. Excellent length. Despite the approachability of the ripe fruit profile, I'd strongly recommend another 2-3 years in the cellar for the flavours to more fully develop. Tasted September 2022." -John Szabo, MS