The Foreign Affair Winery The Conspiracy Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Matt Steeves rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

The Foreign Affair continue to impress with their excellence in appassimento winemaking. The 2013 Conspiracy is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, with the grapes having been harvested between late October and mid November. Once pressed, the juice was re-passed and allowed to ferment on the skins from the naturally dried (appassimento) grapes, then pressed and aged in French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels. The nose shows richly flavoured black cherry, sweet plum, dried herbs, pepper and vanilla. Silky smooth with a velvet-like texture, this would be a terrific complement to wood-fired pizzas topped with sausage meatballs, broccoli and fennel. Enjoy 2016-2017. Tasted June 2016. 89 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

Melanie Aubert rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Using the apassimiento technique perfected in the Veneto region of Italy, this Niagara blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot presents black cherry, delicious plum, black pepper, the telltale green apple mentos flavour of cab franc, and blackberry. Now is the time to try it: it’s $2 off at the LCBO until April 24 ($17.95). Pairs perfectly with Italian fare (pizzas/pastas) or red meats off the grill.

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Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Consistently a very enjoyable wine. This is made using the appassimento method, meaning the grapes are dried to concentrate the flavours. Ripe and some jammy berry fruit is on the nose, along with some plum, and a touch of smoke and cedar. This wine is smooth on the palate, tannins are soft, finish is medium, and the ripe berry flavours carry through on the palate. Try this with rustic Italian dishes, maybe with pork sausage or mushrooms.

Heather Wall rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

This appassimento style red wine blend offers good value right now at $18.(until Apr. 24) Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot have been fermented with dried grape skins (a technique used in making Veneto Amarone) which results in a richer texture and concentrated aromas and flavours. There's lots to enjoy in this wine: fresh and dried red fruit, dark cherries, figs, chocolate and sweet spice aromas. A little more sour cherry on the palate as well as some mocha, prune, earthiness, violets, smoke and oak. The tannins are polished and this wine is meant to be enjoyed now. Pair with your favourite pizza, veal picatta, mushroom risotto.
Tasted: #TasteOntario16 March 2016 #Ottawa