Today I have a mini-vertical of Cabernet Franc wines from the Niagara region’s Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, in particular their The Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc wines from 2015, 2017, and 2018. It is exciting to taste a vertical of wines from a single winery and vineyard, so that you can get a glimpse into how the wine ages and the effects of the growing season on the grapes. I have a paragraph that describes each of the three vintages below. I appreciate that the winery pulled a 2017 and a 2015 Cabernet Franc from their library for me to go along with their recent 2018 wine.
According to the winery, “An ancient Chestnut Tree with an interesting backstory stands in front of Sue-Ann’s home and serves as the namesake for one of our most special wines“. I read the story. It is quite interesting and involves Jesse James! You can read the story here about their Chestnut tree.
Please note that these wines are certified by Brix, their Bernese Mountain Dog.
The Growing Seasons
In 2015, Niagara’s grapevines endured a harsh, record-breaking winter that severely damaged many hectares, prompting replanting and reshaping vineyard strategies across the region. Fortunately, the summer was warm, sunny, and relatively dry, providing optimal conditions for growth without major storm damage. As autumn arrived, September brought beautiful weather to start harvest, and while October saw occasional rain, overall harvest conditions remained favourable. Yields were slightly below average, but ripeness and flavour concentration were strong, especially in later-ripening varietals like Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay. This sounds like a tough vintage, but usually this produces wines with extra character as they age.
In 2017, Niagara’s wine grape growing season started off cool and unusually wet, with frequent spring frosts, heavy rains in May and June, and disease pressure, causing delayed bud break, poor fruit set, and a slower ripening cycle. July and August also had rain. Warm, sunny weather fortunately came in September and October, preserving acidity while allowing sugar and phenolic ripeness to accumulate, turning what began as a challenging vintage into a strong overall season. Harvest extended deep into November without major frost damage, and yields were abundant across many varieties, especially aromatic whites like Riesling, though grapes like Pinot Noir faced some issues from sour rot. This sounds promising for the 2017 wine, I am tasting.
The 2018 grape harvest in Ontario came earlier than usual, with most winemakers starting 10 days to two weeks ahead of schedule due to a warm, dry summer. While the early conditions led to well-ripened, high-quality grapes, late-season rain and humidity introduced challenges, particularly with varieties like Riesling. Winemakers had to act quickly, making technical adjustments and strategic decisions to maintain grape and wine quality. However, the fast pace and unpredictability of the season made it both thrilling and stressful for producers, especially those relying solely on estate-grown fruit. 2018 could be a good vintage, depending on when the grapes were picked. Rain late in the season is not wanted by winemakers, as the grapes can absorb that extra water and dilute the grapes.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc 2018 (ON $54.95)
Winemaker’s notes, “Sue-Ann vinified the Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc from 100% estate-grown, hand-picked fruit. After harvesting in late October 2185, the grapes spent 28 days on skins, where simultaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation took place. After pressing and light settling, we transferred the wine to French and American oak for 22 months of barrel aging.”
Appearance: A clear, deep garnet colour in the glass. About 85% opaque. Teardrops visible on sides of the glass with swirling.
Nose: Medium intensity, youthful, fresh aromas of red fruits and cedar. Same aromas after decanting, plus nutmeg spice.
Palate: Dryish, medium-plus body, smooth, soft, but not quite mouth filling. Flavours of sweet red fruits, black pepper, and plums, plus some butteriness and a hint of nutmeg. Coconut shows up with some swirling in the glass. The wine tastes drier after decanting, plus is a little lighter bodied. More black fruit flavours and less red fruits. I also did not detect any coconut flavour after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with fresh cedar and red fruit flavours, some tart red fruits, red cherries, and black pepper. Medium intensity, drying tannins. Some bitterness after swirling. Lighter cedar, red fruit and cherries after decanting, transitioning to more black fruit flavours. Same level of drying tannins and bitterness on the finish.
This wine should age quite well. It is already 7 years old, and I think has another 5 years to go. I prefer the undecanted version as it is fuller bodied and has more of the red fruit flavours. The decanted version is more mellow, lighter body, with the flavours transitioning from red fruits to black fruits.
Rating: 
no decanting. Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc 2018 shows a clear deep garnet hue and offers youthful aromas of red fruits and cedar, with a hint of nutmeg emerging after decanting. On the palate, it is dryish and medium-plus bodied, featuring smooth flavours of sweet red fruits, plum, black pepper, and a buttery touch, while decanting brings more black fruit and dials back the red fruit and coconut notes. The wine finishes with medium-plus length, fresh cedar, red and black fruits, and a firm, drying tannic structure that remains consistent after decanting.
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc 2017 (not available)
Appearance: This wine has a deep, garnet colour. About 90% opaque. Teardrops visible on sides of the glass with swirling.
Nose: Lighter intensity aromas of red fruit with a hint of sweet spices and coconut. Same aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-plus body with a round, thicker mouthfeel. Ripe red cherries, cedar, black fruit, coconut, and a touch of oaky bitterness. Medium pepperiness. Medium acidity and smooth tannins. Maybe add a touch of black fruit on the palate after decanting. The wine is also a little less peppery.
Finish: Medium-plus length, finishing with ripe red cherries and pepperiness on the palate. Add coconut with some swirl time. Some puckering red fruits and medium-plus drying tannins on the finish. No change to the finish after decanting.
A bigger, fuller bodied, Cabernet Franc. I enjoy the ripe fruit flavours, plus cedar and coconut. Decanting did not make any major changes, so open this wine and enjoy it at your leisure.
Rating: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc 2017 shows deep garnet with 90% opacity. Subtle aromas of red fruit, coconut, and sweet spice that remain unchanged after decanting. On the palate, it’s dry and medium-plus bodied with a round, thicker mouthfeel, offering ripe red cherries, cedar, coconut, and a touch of black fruit and oaky bitterness, with the pepperiness slightly subdued after decanting. The wine finishes with medium-plus length, delivering tart red cherries, pepper, and drying tannins, with coconut emerging with swirl time.
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc 2015 (not available)
Appearance: A dull, deep to opaque mahogany colour with a garnet tone. Teardrops visible on sides of the glass with swirling.
Nose: Medium intensity, aromas of dried black fruits, plums, figs, old cedar, and leather. Has some port-like aroma character. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, with medium-minus to medium body, lean, but soft and smooth mouthfeel. Dried black fruit flavours and some bitterness. Some black cherry from the mid-palate to the finish. Coarser drying tannins. The fruit flavours have mellowed and moved into the aged category. Same flavours, plus leather and some bitter oakiness after decanting. The tannins did get slightly softer.
Finish: Medium to medium-plus length, with a port-like, but dry and bitter finish. Firmer, coarser tannins. Touches of pepperiness and black cherry. Same flavours, plus some bitter oakiness. The tannins were a little softer, but still strong.
Unfortunately, this wine has passed its optimal drinking window. But I thank the winery for sending me this wine as part of the mini vertical so that I can get an idea of the ageability of their Cabernet Franc. Ten years seem to be a little too long for this vintage. 2015 was a difficult year, so maybe this wine was destined to have a shorter lifespan? Their 2017 and 2018 wines taste quite nice now at 7 and 8 years. I cannot see either of these two wines being past their prime at 10 years.
Rating: No rating as this wine has passed its optimal drinking window.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
The Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc 2018 is available for purchase online from the winery’s website.
