There are a pair of wines available from Vineland that are worth the trip down to the winery. Brian Schmidt is a flag bearer for Cabernet Franc in the province so it should be no surprise that the wines i’m about to talk about are Franc.
2014 Van Bers Vineyard Cabernet Franc – $25.00 – ****+ – This wine pushes the limit for what defined Cabernet Franc in the province. 2014 was not an exceptional vintage for Red grapes in the province, but this wine is exceptional. The nose is raspberry, blackberry, cranberry with nice cocoa note. On the palate this wine is fruit driven and very rich with concentrated red fruit flavours. There is a nice herbaceous note buried under all the fruit but it’s just an echo and well integrated. The tannin is smooth and approachable right after opening. Whether you enjoy this wine on its own or with roast beef you will not be disappointed. So here is the dilemma, even though this wine is ready to drink right now, it should evolve nicely over the next 5-7 years in a cellar. The price to quality ratio on this bottle is off the chart in this bottle. The bottom line is, even though this probably should spend some time in a cellar will you have the willpower to let them hold on.
2014 Briar Creek Vineyard Cabernet Franc – $25.00 – **** – The sibling bottle to the Van Bers Vineyard is a little easier to drink… right now. This is definitely a bottle that is designed to settle in the bottle before opening. If this is the sibling to Van Bers, it’s the misbehaving brother that needs to sit in a corner. The nose is smoky, cocoa and coffee over black currant and blackberry. On the palate the fruit is there, but it’s well buried under wood smoke. You have raspberry, cherry, currant, and blackberry but it takes a bit for it to fully reveal itself in your glass. The tannin is grippy and firm and needs a bit of time in a decanter before opening. I will wait 12 months before revisiting this bottle but I expect this to settle down and learn some manners in 3-7 years.
