#WineWednesday: King of Canadian Red, Cabernet Franc
We’ve all heard that Cab is King, but here in Canada we bow to the father (Franc) and not the son (Sauvignon). The reason: consistency. “Cab Franc in Ontario ripens usually a couple of weeks earlier than Cab Sauv giving winemakers and growers a little more time to get the grapes to the maturity levels that are needed. Given this we will have more consistency in wines produced from vintage to vintage,” says Derek Barnett of Lailey Vineyard.
Another reason is competition according to Vineland’s Brian Schmidt there is no comparing from one region to another, “it’s an open and clean slate as to the style, no one compares you to what Chile or California are making”. With that in mind we look at the many face of Franc.
Stratus 2009 Cabernet Franc ($38.00)
Smoky tobacco, spice and raspberry are all the ingredients you’ll find in here, both on the nose and palate … sounds simple but it’s simplicity that makes it delicious.
Hinterbrook 2010 Cabernet Franc Reserve ($40.00)
Red fruit dominated on both nose and palate: raspberry, strawberry and red currant with some red licorice. Palate doles out black raspberry and tobacco and tosses in strawberry, red currant and a nice spiciness; look for the strawberry rolled in cocoa finish.
Vineland Estates 2011 Cabernet Franc ($12.95)
Nice raspberry-tobacco note greets the nose, while the tobacco and raspberry continue on the mouth with touches of cranberry cocktail, cherry and vanilla. You’ll also notice a nice balance of acidity.
Lailey 2010 Cabernet Franc ($25.00)
A spiced black fruit nose and a palate that doles out cedary-pepper, cigarbox and tobacco-spice. Needs a little time for the fruit to emerge.