My Tasting Notes
Church & State Wines Cabernet Franc 2017 (BC $36.79) – This wine is an opaque garnet + ruby in colour; almost opaque to the rim. It has a light intensity nose with aromas of capsicum, sweet spices and black cherries. With decanting you can add a nice milk chocolate note to the nose. It is slightly off-dry, is very smooth, has lower acidity and very light fine tannins. Above average body and intensity of flavours. A mix of red and black fruits, ripe black cherries, and touches of cocoa, sweet spices and floral perfume. With decanting the milk chocolate note is added as well as some capsicum and candied cherry flavours. The tannins get stronger and drier toward the finish. A medium length finishing with light fruit flavours, black cherries, and puckering dry tannins. The tannins soften nicely with decanting.
Rating: 
with decanting. A subtle Cabernet Franc with light capsicum, sweet spices, and black cherry aromas. It is very smooth with lower acidity and fine light tannins. Mainly ripe cherries, black fruit and a touch of cocoa on the palate.
with decanting. A subtle Cabernet Franc with light capsicum, sweet spices, and black cherry aromas. It is very smooth with lower acidity and fine light tannins. Mainly ripe cherries, black fruit and a touch of cocoa on the palate.Church & State Wines Merlot 2017 (BC $36.79) – This wine is also almost opaque to the rim, like the Cab Franc. Garnet colour as well. It has a medium minus intensity nose showing black berries, sweet ripe black cherries, light touches of toastiness, oak and sweet spices. With decanting you can add a touch of cedar and candied cherries aromas. This wine is dry, round, soft and quite smooth. Medium mouth feel. You get flavours of black cherries, black berries, red plums, and touches of tarriness, floral, sweet spices and oak. The oak comes in on the mid palate and continues to the finish. The mouth feel is thicker with decanting, and you get a touch of cedar and candied cherries added on the palate. It has a medium plus length finishing with black berry and cherry flavours, light pepperiness / hotness and medium intensity tannins. I should mention that this wine has 15% alc which is why I picked up some hotness on the finish.
Rating: 
– with decanting. A medium bodied round wine with a mix of blackberries and cherries on the nose and palate. Smooth with a touch of oak that gets stronger toward the finish.
– with decanting. A medium bodied round wine with a mix of blackberries and cherries on the nose and palate. Smooth with a touch of oak that gets stronger toward the finish.
I can imagine enjoying either of these wines with a rich stew.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase Church & State Wines via their website store. Swirl Wine store carries a wide selection of their wines.
The following larger chains and some gov liquor stores carry Church & State Wines:
- Save on foods/Wines of BC (only those who have wine)
- Loblaws/Real Canadian Superstores (only those who have wine)
- Liquor for Less
- Liquor Depot/Liquor Barns
- Everything Wine
- Cascadia
- Liquor Plus
- Jak’s
- Viti
There are other smaller private wine shops carrying these wines but you have to ask.
