Tasting Note – This label has a history winning big prizes (see below), and a long track record of ageing very well. This excellent vintage is shaping up to join the ranks, although I would cellar it until 2030, then drink it through that decade. It has a very showy and complex nose with intense raspberry, pomegranate seed, violet, green herbs/evergreen, stalky notes, and very fine barrel spice. It is medium-full bodied, energized and rich at the same time – lots of textural presence, bolstered by 14.1% alcohol. Tannins are a bit sticky. This has a very polished feel, with excellent to outstanding length.

Backgrounder – The 2015 Small Lot Cabernet Franc won the title of Best Red Wine in the World and a Best in Show Platinum Medal (97 points) at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The cab franc estate vineyard was planted in 1999, isolated from the rest of the vineyard in a northern section that is a bit lower and warmer. It is farmed organically. Grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted on November 16 (late in the season). It underwent about two weeks of skin contact in open wooden fermenters; hand plunged to break surface cap two to three times daily. Individual batches were treated with different strains of yeast and varying length of maceration to increase complexity in the final blend. It was barrel aged in 100% French oak (30% new) for 20 months with individual barrels being selected for the final blend. 

Accolades: Gold Medal National Wine Awards of Canada, Gold Medal International Wine & Spirit Competition UK 2026