The next Ontario Cabernet Franc wines I would like to tell you about are from Thirty Bench Wine Makers, who are located on the Beamsville Bench. This is one of my favourite Niagara wineries, best-known for their Riesling and Pinot Noir wines, IMHO. I eagerly anticipated opening these two Cabernet Franc wines to see what these wines offer. Both are small lot wines, although one is listed as Wild Cask. The grapes for both wines are hand harvested and fermented in large oak casks then aged before bottling. The Wild Cask uses indigenous yeast for the fermentation. What difference did it make?
My Wine Tasting Notes
Thirty Bench Wine Makers Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2022 (ON ~$68)
Appearance: A deep clear mix of ruby and garnet colours. About 80% opaque.
Nose: Medium-intensity aromas of red fruits, red cherries, and toast. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium body with a smooth, round, soft mouthfeel. Toast, red fruits, black cherries, plums along with hints of capsicum, leather and pepperiness. Medium acidity and chalky tannins. The fruit flavours persist but maybe are a bit sweeter after decanting. You can also add juicy berries and a touch of chocolate on the palate.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with tart red fruit flavour along with toast and touches of leather and pepper. Medium tannins and acidity till the end. A softer finish with less acidity and lighter tannins after decanting along with the addition of juicy berry flavour.
I think the decanted version of this wine shows more variety of flavours and offers sweeter fruits on the palate.
Rating: 
– 
with decanting. The Thirty Bench Wine Makers Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2022 presents a deep ruby-garnet hue and opens with inviting red fruit and toast aromas. On the palate, it offers a smooth, round texture with flavours of red fruits, black cherries, plums, and subtle capsicum and leather, supported by medium acidity and chalky tannins. Decanting brings out juicier berry notes and a touch of chocolate, softening both the finish and the wine’s overall structure.
Thirty Bench Wine Makers Wild Cask Cabernet Franc 2022 (ON ~$49)
Appearance: A deep, clear mix of ruby and garnet colours. About 85% opaque.
Nose: Light aromas of red cherry and violet. Red cherry and a touch of capsicum aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry with medium body and a soft, round, smooth mouthfeel. A mix of black and red fruit flavours, along with raspberries, red cherries and plums. Touches of leather, floral, and pepperiness. Medium acidity and tannins. A lighter, leaner mouthfeel after decanting. The fruit flavours are all a lighter intensity. I did not notice any leather on the palate after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with a mix of tart and sweet red and black fruit. Drying tannins with a lean finish. A touch of pepperiness and oak on the finish. A lighter, leaner, more tart finish after decanting.
For this wine, I would recommend no decanting. The decanted version loses intensity of fruit flavours, has a lighter mouthfeel and is more tart on the finish.
Rating: – no decanting. The Thirty Bench Wine Makers Wild Cask Cabernet Franc 2022 displays a deep ruby-garnet colour and opens with light aromas of red cherry and violet, with a hint of capsicum emerging after decanting. The palate is dry with a soft, round texture, offering a mix of red and black fruits, floral notes, and subtle pepperiness. Decanting lightens both the mouthfeel and fruit intensity, leading to a leaner, more tart finish with drying tannins and a touch of oak.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can buy these wines, although these vintages are not yet shown, from the Thirty Bench Wine Makers website. The LCBO is selling the 2020 vintage of the Wild Cask Cabernet Franc.
