My next pair of Ontario Cabernet Franc wines in my research goes to Konzelmann Estate Winery and Reif Estate Winery which are located west and south of Niagara-on-the-Lake respectively. Konzelmann has lake influence, while Rief has the Niagara River influence. Both wines are Reserve level and both from the 2020 vintage, which was viewed as a fantastic vintage, so both should show excellent quality.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Konzelmann Estate Winery Family Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2020 (ON $44.95++)
Appearance: A deeper, clear garnet colour.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of cedar, black plums, sweet spices, and dried red fruits. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, soft, mouth filling mouthfeel. Deep red fruit flavour, plus cedar, black plums, and some black fruits and bitterness. Fine-grained, medium intensity tannins and medium acidity. Same flavours, body, tannins and acidity after decanting. You can add a touch of coconut mixed in with the cedar flavour.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with dark fruit flavours, cedar, black pepper and some bitterness. Medium-plus drying tannins and mouthwatering acidity. Same finish after decanting.
A quality wine with a supple mouthfeel. Inviting cedar and deep ripe red fruit aromas and flavours.
Rating: 
The Konzelmann Estate Winery Family Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2020 delivers a polished, full-bodied experience with deep red and black fruit flavours, layered with cedar, sweet spices, and a subtle touch of coconut. Smooth and mouth-filling, it offers balanced acidity and fine-grained tannins. The wine changes little after decanting, finishing with dark fruit, black pepper, and a hint of bitterness.
Reif Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Franc 2020 (ON $30.15++)
Winemaker’s notes, “Grapes were pressed and allowed to ferment on the skins for 14 days. The wine was pressed and allowed to undergo 100% malolactic fermentation. Aging was done in newer French barriques for eighteen months, adding soft tannins on the finish.”
Appearance: This wine has a deep, dull garnet colour from the core to the rim.
Nose: It has rich aromas of ripe red and black fruits, black plums, along with touches of toast, tar, leather, and candied cherries. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium body with a lean to start, smooth and soft, supple, light mouthfeel. The wine gets a bit bigger and rounder with swirling in the glass. Higher acidity and light tannins. Quite tart red fruits, some plums and candied cherries, along with some leather on the palate. Leather is more prominent after decanting. The tannins are a little stronger and the wine has a more lean than round mouthfeel.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with a mix of red fruit and leather. Some candied cherries, pepperiness and bitterness. A lean finish. A drier finish with medium-plus tannins after decanting.
A wine with bright, tart red fruit flavours with higher acidity that I think would be a good candidate for aging.
Rating: 
The Reif Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Franc 2020 opens with rich aromas of ripe red and black fruits, black plums, leather, and candied cherries. On the palate, it’s lean and supple with higher acidity, offering tart red fruits, plum, and evolving leather notes. Decanting brings out more leather and firmer tannins, leading to a drier, medium-plus finish with a touch of pepper and bitterness.
I would say that you can taste the warmth of the 2020 season with the rich aromas and flavours of these two wines.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available for purchase online at their respective winery website:
- Konzelmann Estate Winery Family Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2020
- Reif Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Franc 2020
I did not see either wine listed on the LCBO website. You may want to check with your local, private bottle shop.
