I received two Cabernet Franc wines from Pillitteri Estates Winery as part of my discovery and discussion about how this grape expresses itself in the Niagara region of southern Ontario. These two wines are from the 2020 vintage, with one, the Exclamation Cellar Series, being the top tier, which is only made in exceptional years. It should be interesting to see the similarities or differences between these two wines. This winery is Ontario Certified Sustainable Winemaking.
About the Pillitteri Estates Winery, “Since arriving in Niagara on the Lake, Canada in 1948, the Pillitteri family has been committed to creating a legacy for generations to follow. Now, over six decades later, Pillitteri Estates Winery proudly continues a family tradition of viticulture and winemaking excellence. With three generations actively involved with our winery’s operations…Pillitteri Estates Winery has chosen to produce 100% locally grown wines that come from grapes grown right here in our community.”
As I mentioned in an earlier article, the 2020 Ontario wine grape harvest was marked by one of the most ideal growing seasons in recent memory; dry, sunny, and well-timed rain events created nearly textbook conditions for ripening. Fruit came in earlier than usual, clean and concentrated, with both quality and quantity exceeding expectations across the board; a rare and welcome combination. From small Pinot clusters to plump Chardonnay bunches, the vintage delivered with ease, setting the stage for a standout year in Ontario wine.
Let’s see how these two Cabernet Franc wines benefited from the great growing conditions.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Pillitteri Estates Winery Exclamation Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020 (ON $68++)
This wine spent 24 months French oak. The Exclamation Cellar Series wine depicts the original architectural drawing of the ‘King’s Chair,’ the largest of the family chairs, hanging in their barrel cellar.
Appearance: A dull, deep garnet colour in the glass.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of red fruit to start, then black fruit with swirling in the glass. Toast dark cherry syrup and a touch of cedar. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry with medium-plus body and a thicker, round soft, mouth filling mouthfeel. Silky soft tannins and medium acidity. Ripe black fruits, black pepper, ripe plums and black cherries, along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper spices. Hints of cedar and vanilla. The tannins get stronger with swirling and get stronger toward the finish. Also, some buttery texture and pepperiness toward the finish. No change to the flavours, body, or texture after decanting.
Finish: A long length finishing with sweet, ripe black fruits and cedar on the finish. Some pepperiness and butteriness on the finish as well. Medium-plus tannins. No changes to the finish after decanting.
Truly a wine with staying power. Lots of flavours, plus you get a thick, plush mouthfeel. No need to decant. Excellent drinking the next day as well. This wine could comfortably age another 5-8 years.
Rating: 
– 
The Pillitteri Estates Winery Exclamation Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020 delivers a luxurious, full-flavoured experience with layered aromas of red and black fruits, dark cherry syrup, and cedar. On the palate, it offers a plush, mouth-filling texture with ripe black fruits, spice, and silky tannins that gain strength toward the finish. The long finish lingers with sweet black fruits, cedar, pepper, and a hint of buttery texture, remaining consistent even after decanting.
Pillitteri Estates Winery Carretto Cabernet Franc 2020 (ON $31.84++)
This wine spent 19 months French oak barrels. FYI, a caretto is a Silician two-wheeled (usually horse-drawn) cart for carrying loads. You can see a drawing of a caretto on the label.
Appearance: A clear, medium-plus garnet colour.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of bramble, smoke, red fruit and oak. You get black fruit aromas after swirling in the glass. Same aromas, except for lessened red fruits.
Palate: Dry with a medium body, and a smooth, round, not quite mouth filling mouthfeel. Red cherries, plums and a touch of leather and oak flavours. Black fruits show up on the mid-palate to the finish. Fine-grained, but firmer tannins. Medium acidity. The wine leans to more black fruit flavours after decanting. No red cherries. The tannins get a little lighter in intensity.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with red fruits, red cherries, oak and a touch of bitterness. Medium-plus drying tannins. Black fruit prominent on the finish and pepperiness after decanting. No red cherries or red fruit flavours.
A good quality wine. Nothing sticks out on the nose or palate. It is interesting that after decanting you get more black fruit flavours. Decanting or not is okay. You get a different flavour experience either way.
Rating: 
– The Pillitteri Estates Winery Carretto Cabernet Franc 2020 opens with aromas of bramble, smoke, and red fruit, which shift toward darker fruit tones after swirling. On the palate, it offers a smooth, medium-bodied experience with red cherry and plum flavours transitioning to black fruits and firmer tannins. Decanting reveals more black fruit and peppery notes, while softening the tannins and diminishing the red fruit character.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Did you notice that the corks on these bottles had printed “Proudly Made in Canada” on them? I have not seen this before, but it is a wonderful idea.
Both wines are available for purchase from the Pillitteri Estates Winery’s website:
- Pillitteri Estates Winery Exclamation Cabernet Franc 2020
- Pillitteri Estates Winery Carretto Cabernet Franc 2020
I did not see either wine listed in the LCBO. You may want to inquire with your local bottle shop for availability.
