Tasting Note  For context, I tasted this amid the current range of Cave Spring’s cab francs, and it stood out. It is such a well-rendered, balanced and typical Niagara cabernet franc. Way beyond expectation at the price. The nose is very generous with complex savoury cedar/pine evergreen, dried herbs, toasty notes (dill/basil) and raspberry. It is medium weight, so smooth and elegant and rich. I kept thinking of Chianti, but with more texture. Very focused, complete and long with excellent length. I loved this wine for its Niagara cab franc authenticity and deliciousness. Should drink well into the mid 2030s. Tasted February 2026.

Backgrounder From one of Ontario’s founding wineries in the late 1980s, Cave Spring’s Dolomite tier is named after the layer of dolostone limestone that forms the Niagara Escarpment above the Cave Spring Vineyard, and influences the soils below. Originally conceived as trade/licensee tier, the wines show structure and depth above the estate range. Average vine age for in the range of 20 to 25 years. 2023 was a long, temperate season with a broad diurnal temperature shift. Cabernet franc ripened fairly late with moderate yields, delivering well fruited yet sturdy wines with long-term ageing potential. The top tier Cave Spring CSV Cabernet Franc 2022 was reviewed in Post 7 in February.