These next two Ontario Cabernet Franc wines come from a slightly different area than the other Ontario wines, I’ve been tasting so far. Prince Edward County is a small region jutting into the north side of Lake Ontario. It has a cooler climate compared to the Niagara region on the south side of Lake Ontario. This area is best known for Pinot Noir wine, but Gamay Noir and Cabernet Franc are also popular there. I received two more recently bottled Cabernet Franc wines from The Grange of Prince Edward winery.
Let me tell you about these wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
The Grange of Prince Edward Northfield Block Cabernet Franc 2023 (ON $32)
The Northfield Block is one of five vineyard blocks at their estate winery. Each block offers a unique terroir that influences their wine’s range of character and complexity. Winemaker’s notes “Picked late and very ripe. East and west plantings of Northfield Block fermented in bin and barreled down separately. Fermented quickly with selected yeasts allowing temperatures to rise intentionally. Pump overs at front end of ferment and punch downs at the end. 10 months in barrel with 30% new French oak. Selected barrels were chosen and blended.“
Appearance: It has a deep, clear garnet colour. Consistent colour from the core to the rim.
Nose: Medium-plus intensity. Very aromatic aromas; Smoky, juicy berries, plums, sweet spices, sweet cherries, black fruit and oak. No change to the nose after decanting.
Palate: The wine is dry at 0.9 g/l of residual sugar but has a fruity taste of juicy and tart berries, cranberries, plums and touches of oak and smokiness. Light body with a lean, smooth, soft mouthfeel. Higher acidity. It has an interesting juiciness on the palate that reminds me of Beaujolais Nouveaux, that I have not had in any of the other 19 Ontario Cab Franc wines I tasted. (I checked with the winery and there was no carbonic maceration, so the resulting wine is unique in my opinion). Very faint tannins. The wine bumps up to medium bounder, is rounder and has a thicker mouthfeel after decanting. Same juicy fruit flavours. Add a touch of leather.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with tart berries and cherries, plums, light pepperiness, and mouthwatering acidity. Faint tannins. After decanting, you can add some oakiness and a touch of leather on the finish.
This wine is quite different with its juicy, fruity flavours. I prefer the decanted version as the wine has a fuller, rounder body.
Rating: 
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with decanting. The Grange of Prince Edward Northfield Block Cabernet Franc 2023 impresses with a deep, clear garnet hue and a very aromatic nose of smoky, juicy berries, plums, sweet cherries, spices, and oak. On the palate, it’s dry yet uniquely juicy, reminiscent of Beaujolais Nouveaux, with a lean, smooth, and tart profile that rounds out to reveal subtle leather and oak after decanting. The medium-plus finish is marked by tart berries, cherries, plums, gentle pepperiness, and mouthwatering acidity along with faint tannins.
The Grange of Prince Edward Aurelia Series Barrel Select Cabernet Franc 2023 (ON $65)
Winemaker’s notes, “Field sorted. Destemmed. Twice daily punch downs. Cuvee was barrel selected from estate Cabernet Franc for extending ageing. 18 Months elevage in premium French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% second fill.” So this wine has an additional 8 months of barrel aging and aging in 50% vs 30% new oak barrels compared to the Estate wine. Only 100 cases of this wine were produced.
Appearance: A medium intensity clear garnet colour in the glass. Consistent colour from the core to the rim.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of raspberries, sweet berries, plums, and floral, plus a touch of oak. Lighter aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is also dry with 1 g/l of residual sugar but also has that same juicy fruitiness. Red fruits, red berries, raspberries plus a hint of floral on the palate. Light body with a soft, smooth, light mouthfeel. Higher acidity and very faint tannins. A medium body after decanting, plus a thicker, rounder mouthfeel. The acidity is not as high and the tannins feel more plush.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with tart berries and cherry flavours. Acid driven to the finish. Light, drying tannins. The wine is less tart with lower acidity after decanting.
Another distinctive wine for this winery. I prefer the decanted version as the wine is fuller bodied, with lower acidity and has a rounder mouthfeel.
Rating: – with decanting. The Grange of Prince Edward Aurelia Series Barrel Select Cabernet Franc 2023 offers a clear garnet colour and light aromas of raspberries, sweet berries, plums, and floral notes, with a subtle touch of oak. On the palate, the wine is dry but juicy, showing fresh red fruits and light floral tones, supported by high acidity and faint tannins. After decanting, the wine gains body and roundness, softening its acidity and revealing a more plush texture, while the finish remains berry-driven with a gentle, drying finish.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available for purchase online through The Grange of Prince Edward website:
- The Grange of Prince Edward Northfield Block Cabernet Franc 2023
- The Grange of Prince Edward Aurelia Series Barrel Select Cabernet Franc 2023
Again, I hope with the interprovincial trade barriers supposedly coming down by Canada Day that we will have easier access to buy these wines and other wines from Ontario and other provinces.
