2012 Tawse Laundry Vineyard Cabernet Franc – Vintages 130997 – $31.95 – ****1/2 – This wine poses a problem to anyone building a collection. The problem is this wine is drinking great right now, and while this isn’t “everyday drinking” wine at just north of thirty dollars it’s definitely “I need to impress someone tonight” wine and those occasions arise with more frequency. The tannin is silky smooth but I anticipate this wine has another 7-10 years of life left in a cellar. The nose is licorice, black cherry, blackberry and currant with hints of raspberry, and cocoa. The flavours are intense and concentrated. The fruit flavours are dark cherry, raspberry, plum with a nice vanilla note and cocoa on the finish. This is medium bodied pushing the line close to being full. There is nice acidity on the finish, this wine is a great example of what magic comes from the vines in a hot Ontario summer.
2015 Featherstone Four Feathers – Vintages 341586 – $14.95 – **** – The thing I love about this wine is that it’s a reminder that not everything in the vintages section is aiming to be a “serious” wine. This is the perfect wine to put on your table if you’re trying to please a crowd. This is a blend of Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Riesling and it’s as if the three grapes are keeping each other in check to create harmony in the blend. Light, crisp and easy drinking there is a bit of sweetness on the finish. The slight sweetness does linger, but it is matched up with near perfect acidity. This is perfect for summer, and I assure you the wine tasted better and drinks easier as the temperatures rise so keep a bottle on hand for when it’s hot outside. Pair this with Seafood or Chicken of any sort.
