Stratus Cabernet Franc 2022 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 91/100

Stratus Cabernet Franc from Niagara-on-the-Lake is a dry, medium-to-full-bodied Ontario red that pours a deep, lustrous ruby and greets the nose with a generous, layered bouquet of crushed blackcurrant, dried wild rose and kirsch, lifted by notes of warm cardamom, pencil shavings and a gentle curl of sweet pipe tobacco that speaks to the wine's thoughtful time in barrel. The palate is supple and focused, with dusty, well-resolved tannins, a bright seam of acidity and a concentrated dark-fruit core that finishes long and satisfying with a trailing note of dried sage and toasted cedar. Serve it at room temperature and enjoy from now through 2034. Founding winemaker Jean-Laurent Groux, who trained in the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux and was honoured with the Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker of the Year award, built Stratus into one of Canada's most celebrated estates alongside current winemaker Dean Stoyka, whose curiosity and precision continue to push the wines forward. Stratus holds the remarkable distinction of being the world's first winery to achieve full LEED certification when it opened in 2005, a milestone that cemented its reputation as a pioneer not just in quality but in environmental stewardship. Try this alongside a grilled steak with a peppercorn and herb butter, where the wine's dark fruit depth and cedary spice are a beautifully natural match, or pair it with a platter of aged Niagara cheddar and smoked meats for a proudly Canadian pairing.

Cabernet Franc food pairings: aged hard cheeses, grilled steak, smoked meat sandwiches.

Harmonious Hard Cheese Wine

This Stratus Cabernet Franc 2022 was reviewed on May 16, 2026 by Natalie MacLean

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Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.

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