The 2011 edition of this always popular Cabernet Franc from Tinhorn Creek successfully captures the unique blend of cured meats, herbs, cola and blackberry fruit that the variety produces in the Okanagan Valley.
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Fort Berens Estate Winery 2011 Cabernet Franc - $26
This Franc is loaded with herbs and blue fruit making for a very quaffable Franc benefiting from 12 months in barrel prior to bottling. The dry palate that follows, is a tad 'green' on the firm tannins, attributable to the cooler vintage, though it's the herbs, mineral and berry fruit flavours that resonate through to the mouth-watering and well-balanced long finish.
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River Stone Estate Winery 2011 Cabernet Franc - $26
Complex and well-balanced with good continuity from the aromatic nose to the dry palate spicy blue fruit, warm rocks, light oak, cardamon, coffee grind and violet aromas and flavours. A good acidic kick and fine tannins structures the mouth feel through to the moderate finish.
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Gold Hill Winery 2011 Cabernet Franc II - $27
Gold Hill Winery definitely have a handle on how to produce excellent Cabernet Franc from their home vineyard along the Golden Mile Bench. The palate impresses with good continuity from the nose and a nice balance of fresh acidity and rounded tannins which lovingly frame the ripe berry fruit, dried herbs, cured sausage, coffee grind and light spice flavours.
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A cool, but long 2010 growing season has given birth to a low alcohol and nuanced Cabernet Franc that offers a warm, feminine nose of violets, mandarin peel, ripe blackberry, boysenberry and soft oak aromas. A smooth mouth feel awaits on the dry, medium-bodied palate that offers fine, mannered tannins and delicate layers of berry fruit and mineral flavours.
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