Here are my latest two Niagara region Cabernet Franc wines to tell you about from One-Eighty Estate Winery. The story of One-Eighty Estate Winery, “…all started when Bob and Marzia decided they wanted to pursue a new path in life…Bob and Marzia and their two daughters, Taylor and Sara, have always been risk takers in life…Opportunity arose to own and operate a winery in Niagara Wine Country and they jumped on it. They sold their family home in Mississauga, Marzia left her corporate job, and the four of them moved into the bungalow on the vineyard…Pulling a complete 180 in life…”
One of the wines I tasted is a rosé, which is different from all the other Cab Franc wines, which gives me and you some insight into the aromas and flavours of this grape, made in a lighter style.
My Wine Tasting Notes
One-Eighty Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Rosé 2023 (ON $28 Sold Out)
Appearance: A bright, clear, lighter orange-garnet colour in the glass.
Nose: Medium intensity, fresh, youthful aromas of red berries, cranberries, red cherries, plus hints of herbaceousness, and sweet spices (nutmeg). There were no changes to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Off-dry to medium-dry with medium-plus body, and a smooth, soft, thicker mouthfeel. Soft flavours of red fruits, red cherries and berries with a touch of herbaceousness. A little more acidity would bring more structure to this wine. Tannins were not detectable. The wine has a lighter body with a thinner mouthfeel after decanting. And the acidity feels higher (which I like). The fruit flavours stayed the same.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing off-dry, smooth and soft to the end. Light pepperiness on the finish. A lighter, thinner mouthfeel and more acidity on the finish after decanting.
I prefer this wine after decanting as it has a lighter body which allows the acidity in the wine to come through.
Rating: 
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The One-Eighty Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Rosé 2023 shows a bright, pale orange-garnet hue and a fresh nose of red berries, cranberries, sweet spices, and a touch of herbaceousness. The off-dry palate offers a smooth, soft texture with ripe red fruit flavours and minimal tannins. After decanting, the wine lightens in body and mouthfeel, with fresher acidity and a clean, peppery finish
One-Eighty Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020 (ON $54)
Appearance: This wine has a dull, very deep, black-garnet colour.
Nose: Medium, but intense aromas of cedar (strong), red and black fruits, plums, black cherries, oak and sweet spices. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: It is dryish to start but feels dry mid-palate onward. Medium body, with a smooth mouthfeel. It had a hint of butteriness in the beginning. Black fruits and plums flavours, plus touches of capsicum, cedar, vanilla, and oak on the palate. The wine tastes dried and bumps up to medium-plus body along with firmer tannins adding more structure. You can add some red cherries to the fruit flavours.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with firmer, drying tannins. Black fruits, cedar and some pepperiness on the palate. The only change I noted on the finish after decanting was a touch of oak bitterness.
You can probably age this wine for a few years to let the tannins soften. I preferred this wine more after decanting, as it tasted drier on the palate.
Rating: One-Eighty Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020 offers a deep black-garnet hue and intense aromas of cedar, black and red fruits, plums, and sweet spice. On the palate, it begins dryish with a hint of butteriness, then transitions to a firmer, medium-plus body featuring black fruits, plum, cedar, and touches of vanilla and capsicum. Medium-plus length finishing with firmer, drying tannins. Black fruits, cedar and some pepperiness on the palate, plus a touch of bitterness after decanting.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase these wines online via the One-Eighty Estate Winery website:
- One-Eighty Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020
- One-Eighty Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Rosé 2023 (unfortunately it is sold out)
