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Sustainably produced Cabernet Franc-led blend from Niagara in Canada, Stratus Cabernet Franc 2019 initially tastes of red fruits but as the wine opens up an array of black fruit, liquorice and black olive flavours emerge. This wine is similar in style to a Loire Cabernet Franc but it’s much softer.
Only 6 left in stock
Only 6 left in stock
| Wine Style | Red Wine, Rich Spicy Red |
|---|---|
| Grape Variety | Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot |
| Wine Region | Niagara Peninsula |
| Country | Canada |
| ABV | 13.50% |
| Oaked | Yes |
| Cork | Yes |
| Lifestyle | Vegan, Certified Sustainable |
| Volume | 75cl |
| Drink By | 2030 |
Stratus Cabernet Franc 2019 is a Canadian wine, a Cabernet Franc-led blend comprised of the following grapes – 31% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 4% Tannat, 3% Syrah and 2% Malbec. Cabernet Franc is often seen in blends, usually with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot like this one, because on its own it must be allowed to ripen fully to avoid green flavours and to allow the beautiful fruit and floral characteristics to develop. You might think that Canada therefore would not be the ideal place for Cabernet Franc – in fact, the Niagara Peninsula, home to the Canadian wine appellation Niagara Lakeshore for which this wine qualifies, is perfect as it is situated on the banks of Lake Ontario and its proximity to water means that high summer temperatures are reduced and that the ripening period for grapes is extended.
Stratus Cabernet Franc 2019 is bursting with fruit & floral aromas and the flavours are equally as complex. It tastes initially of red fruits like raspberries, ripe cherries with cassis and a touch of vanilla but as the wine opens up darker fruit flavours like blackberries and dark plums emerge along with liquorice, woody and black olive notes. The oak ageing has not been overdone, only 6% new oak is used. The tannins are smooth given that the Cabernet Franc content is higher than the Cabernet Sauvignon content and the crunchy red fruit flavours and the relatively high acidity in the wine give it a fresh long finish and the power to age further in bottle.
The wine-maker of Stratus Cabernet Franc 2019, J-L Groux, is from the Loire Valley originally and he’s become known as one of Niagara’s winemaking pioneers. His aim is for outstanding wines with “powerful aromatics, a round mouthfeel, complexity, significant length and the capability of aging at least seven to 10 years” which he has certainly achieved in this wine. Simplicity is the key – Stratus is a gravity flow winery, the first in the world to be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and the wine is certified sustainable.
You could try Domaine Gayda’s Figure Libre for a luscious 100% Cabernet Franc wine.
Recommended to drink with rare lamb or steak; this wine also has the body and character to complement roast beef, barbecued meats and strong flavoured beef casseroles and it is sufficiently smooth to drink with roast chicken or turkey.
It is worth decanting and letting this wine breathe for an hour or so before serving – read my blog on decanting for more information. There may be a little sediment. Serve at 15 – 18°C
“Boasts potent aromas and flavours of pomegranate, dried tobacco leaf and hibiscus. With a fine structure of savoury overtones, a fruit-filled palate of black prune and cassis are accompanied by subtle notes of earthy undertones that unfold into a well-balanced and expressive finish of cocoa powder that coats the palate.”
94 points – WineAlign – Dec 2022
“Big volume on the nose here from Stratus’s flagship red blend, 31% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 4% Tannat, 3% Syrah and 2% Malbec. I love the texture on the palate, the silky-firm tannins, the sharp-tart acids, the long, lingering finish. Complexity is high, and density/weight/concentration are impressive, as is balance. Terrific length, too. A superb vintage, best 2024-2030.”
93 points – WineAlign – Nov 2022
“… the 2019 Stratus Red is a blend of seven varieties … So one expects complexity and it delivers with generous red and black fruit aromas and a collage of herbs and dried flowers. It was aged over two years in French oak, only 6% new, so there are also cedary and spicy notes as well. I have tried this wine three times so far and get different things at different times. More importantly it is medium-full bodied, with firm acidity, moderated 13.3% alcohol and some starchy but not green tannin… there is a certain sense of compactness and leanness, but there is also excellent energy and depth”
16 points – JancisRobinson.com – May 2022
“Paler but bluer colour than the 2017. Very varietal fragrance with a rather sweeter, softer finish than a typical Loire Cabernet Franc. Nice wine. Not too heavy. Slightly sour finish at present.”
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