WineAlign - Awards - 2019 NWAC Cabernet Franc

Results of the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)

Cabernet Franc

Category Overview by Judge Janet Dorozynski

Cabernet Franc is one of Canada’s red grape varieties that is shining. It has captured the attention of grape growers and wine makers and increasingly with trade and consumers both within Canada and internationally. We grow it in most of the growing regions across the country and, with the exception of its homeland in the Loire Valley in France, there is no wine growing region in the world that has “owned” or made it a signature grape variety, with many in Canada thinking it’s high time that we do so here.

(Jump straight to the medal winners.)

We make a range of styles from this ancient red grape and parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, though a fair bit of it still ends up in red blends where it increasingly makes up a higher percentage of the blend. On its own, most Cabernet France is made as a dry red but is also capable of producing luscious red Icewine, interesting rosés and a growing number of interesting traditional method sparkling versions.

With vibrant red and dark fruit and lower tannin, it drinks well young, unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, but is still capable of aging beautifully. It has a charm and elegance, whether made in the fuller bodied versions coming from the Okanagan or prime Niagara sub-appellations of Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara River or Beamsville Bench, or when made in the lighter fresher styles coming from Prince Edward County and Nova Scotia. Lifted bell pepper notes are kept in check with excessive greenness or steminess being a thing of the past. And always an important consideration, it grows well in most regions of Canada since it’s earlier ripening than other red varieties and proving to be more winter hardy as well.

The large and impressive showing of Cabernet Franc from NWAC 2019 is a testament to the range of styles of this variety and speaks convincingly that this could Canada’s coast to coast Canadian signature red wine.

And the winners are…

Backyard 2017 Cabernet Franc, British Columbia
Clos du Soleil 2016 Winemaker Series Cabernet Franc Estate Vineyard, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Organized Crime 2016 Cabernet Franc, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Rosehall Run 2016 Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard, Prince Edward County, Ontario
SKAHA Vineyard 2016 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Van Westen 2016 Vulture, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Black Sage 2016 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kismet 2016 Cabernet Franc Reserve, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Marynissen 2017 Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Megalomaniac 2016 Frank Cabernet , Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Mission Hill 2016 Terroir Collection No. 32 Vista’s Edge Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Painted Rock 2016 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Peller Estates 2016 Andrew Peller Signature Series Cabernet Franc, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Peller Estates 2017 Private Reserve Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2015 Growers Blend Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2016 Cabernet Franc David’s Block, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2016 Cabernet Franc Laundry Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario