Chateau Niagara Cabernet Franc 2016

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Chateau Niagara Cabernet Franc 2016

My friend Jim of Chateau Niagara sent me out some of his finest wines to try, Today we get into Cabernet Franc 2016. This wine Chateau Niagara Cabernet Franc 2016 was one of the Cab Franc wines that participated in #CabFrancDay December 4th. with high accolades!  Chateau Niagara is a small vineyard that Jim and Kathy Baker dreamt of until it became a reality in June 2006. That is when they purchased 31 acres of prime farmland in Newfane, N.Y. in the Niagara region and began growing high-quality vinifera wine grapes. Varieties include well-known wine grapes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and  Bleaufrankish as well as some exotic varieties- Saperavi and Turan.  These grapes are part of long-term effort to create very innovative wines as well as classic styles interpreted with a sense of the Niagara Lake Plain influence.

The Cabernet Franc grape

Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is normally used for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style. It can be used alone to produce a wine lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon. Records of Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux go back to the end of the 18th century, although it was planted in the Loire long before that time. DNA analysis indicates that Cabernet Franc is one of two parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère. It is virtually found in all the major wine regions around the world.

Cabernet Franc is very similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, but buds and ripens at least a week earlier. This trait allows the vine to thrive in slightly cooler climates than Cabernet Sauvignon, such as the Loire Valley. In Bordeaux, plantings of Cabernet Franc are treated as an “insurance policy” against inclement weather close to harvest that may damage plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon.

What I found,

This is a very nice example of the quality of wine coming out of New York State. Observing the color it is a beautiful light ruby red. Clarity is perfect. It is a lighter bodied wine with fine legs. The aroma is mild with cherry, plum and a touch of pepper with some violets thrown it. The flavor fills your mouth with dark fruit, minerals, and spice. It is a very dry wine that has a pleasant finish. It’s not complex but a very nice wine. I enjoyed it very much and think it is a great value. My opinion is that this is a wine for roasted meats, pot roasts. A weekend type of wine. Chateau Niagara Cabernet Franc 2016 can be ordered directly from the vineyard Chateau Niagara.

Cheers, until next week,

Lew