2019 Lepp Cabernet Franc

Availability: Winery direct and select restaurant accounts

Vintage: 2019

Variety or Blend: 100% Cabernet Franc

Vineyard Designation: Wagg Rad Vineyard

Region: Niagara Lakeshore

Vine Age: 30 years

Soil: Loam with sand and gravel

Wine Style: Dry

Oak: 100% French Oak, 20% New Oak

Alcohol Content: 13.5%

PH: 3.8

TA: 6.9 g/L

Ageing: Drink now through 2030

Serving Temperature: 14 - 18 degrees Celsius

Winemaking:

The 2019 Wagg Road Vineyard Cabernet Franc was harvested with excellent flavour and when the fruit was hanging clean on the vines. We start with about 50% of the fruit crushed, while the other 50% remains whole berry during a 5-7 day cold soak. After cold soaking, we warm up the fruit for alcoholic fermentation. Once alcoholic fermentation is complete and the tannin structure is right, we gently press each batch of wine off of the skins with our basket press, tasting at the press and then pump it to a settling tank.  After settling, each batch of wine is put into specially selected barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging.  The wine is sulphured in barrel to preserve the character and fruit and continues to age with careful monitoring for 18 months.  Through tasting and blending trials, the Cabernet Franc is then taken out of barrels, when ready, and blended into tank to integrate as the final wine.  This Cabernet Franc is special selected barrels who quality and balance was above and beyond all others.  A light filtration is carried out before bottling.

Appearance:

Dark ruby with garnet and purple hues.

Aromas:

Blackberries, plum and clove jump from the glass followed by currants, cassis, licorice, leather and blueberry. Finishes with tobacco, vanilla and violet notes.

Palate:

Primary flavours that enter on your palate match the aromas.  A dry medium to full body red with a textured mid palate and flavours of blackberry, plum, cassis, spices and blueberry followed by bright red fruit flavours of raspberry and cherry. Floral nuances with leather, vanilla, dried tobacco, black pepper and liquorish follow up. Secondary complexities persist in the background of this wine and will continue to develop and integrate over time.  A refreshing balance of textured and velvety tannin, fruit and acidity make this wine food friendly and great to pair with prime rib or BBQ meats.