Vanessa Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2015

Deborah Podurgiel WSET IV Candidate rated this wine as 95/100 with the following review:

From the hottest year ever recorded in the Similkameen Valley, Vanessa Vineyard's Cabernet Franc 2015 is a spectacular Cab Franc. Wine grapes were hand-harvested, destemmed and underwent a gentle crush prior to small-batch fermentation and punching down by hand . Almost completely comprised of free run juice there was a small amount of pressed juice added back to the wine to balance tannins. This vintage was fermented and barrel-aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, 30% new.

On the nose, Vanessa's Cab Franc is flinty with mineral notes, crushed raspberries and a whiff of smoky vanilla. It is as luxurious on the palate as it is on the nose, albeit a little tight now. Deep ruby in the glass, this is a dry, full-bodied and powerful red, textured with ripe raspberries, liquid dark red cherries, dark chocolate, savoury herbs finishing long and spicy with cocoa and smoky vanilla from oak ageing. Tannins are firm and grippy and the wine should be decanted for an hour, at the very least, prior to pouring with a big hunk of prime rib done rare. It has the muscle to handle it. However, if you can wait about three years and cellar it this vintage will be a blessed marriage made in wine heaven.

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A beautiful wine from a hot vintage in the Similkameen Valley. This is 100% estate grown Cabernet Franc, showing bright red fruit on the nose, along with some earthy notes, leather, and campfire smoke. Full bodied, bright on the palate, with some firm but subtle tannins. Lots of bright red berry on the finish. Enjoy with duck, pork, or sausages.