I have two Cabernet wines for you from South Okanagan’s Adega on 45th Estate Winery; one is their Cabernet Franc 2022 and the other their Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Did you know that Cabernet Franc is one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon? Who is the other parent?
Adega cultivates 19 acres of estate fruit and are committed to sustainability. Their vineyard is planted with 6 acres of Merlot, 4 acres of Cabernet Franc, 3 acres of Malbec, 2 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 acres of Riesling, 1 acre of Sauvignon Blanc, and 1 acre of Orange Muscat. Overall, I would say you are getting small lots of quality wines for each varietal, so I would suggest purchasing the wines once available, sooner rather than later.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2022 (BC $32.99)
Winery notes, “All hand picked estate fruit sitting on the East side of Osoyoos Lake with sunny South West exposures and amazing terroir…Whole-cluster pressed…Fermentation in stainless steel and oak barrels for 12 months.”
Appearance: A medium-plus intensity, clear garnet colour with a faint hint of orange brick on the rim.
Nose: Very inviting, medium intensity aromas of toast, cherries, red plums, and cinnamon, plus touches of black fruit and cedar. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-minus body with a lean, soft mouthfeel. Red fruit, dried red fruits and plums, black cherries, along with leather, cedar and oak flavours on the palate. It has a mix of an acidic edge and a tannic backbone. I can feel the Okanagan desert climate in this wine. No change to the palate after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with dried red fruits, sweet spices and touches of leather and pepperiness. Medium intensity, drying tannins. You can add dried black fruits and some butteriness to the finish after decanting.
A polished, elegant wine. Inviting aromas and flavours of red fruits and sweet spices. No need to decant.
Rating: 
The Adega on 45th Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2022 has a clear garnet colour with a hint of brick and offers inviting aromas of cherries, plums, toast, cinnamon, and cedar. The palate is lean and soft with red and dried fruits, black cherries, leather, and oak, framed by both acidity and tannins that reflect the Okanagan’s desert climate. It finishes with medium-plus length, showing dried fruits, sweet spice, leather, and pepper, gaining black fruit and a touch of butteriness after decanting.
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (BC $39.99)
Winery notes, “All hand picked estate fruit sitting on the East side of Osoyoos Lake with sunny South West exposures and amazing terroir…Whole-cluster pressed…Fermentation in stainless steel and oak barrels for 15 months.”
Appearance: A deeper dull, black garnet colour, almost opaque to the rim.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of smoked meat, black plums, black fruit, and touches of oak, leather and sweet spices. Same aromas, but maybe less smoked meat, and add a touch of tomato aromatics after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-plus body with a round, soft, smooth, mouthfeel. Black cherries, black fruits, plums, and black berry fruit on the palate, along with Old World oak, and touches of leather and pepperiness. Also toward the finish you get a tinge of red berries and floral. Medium acidity and tannins. No change to the flavours or mouthfeel after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with black berries, light pepperiness and firmer, drying tannins. The finish has a little bit of bitterness after decanting.
A wine showing aged components, but is delicious and intriguing to drink. No need to decant. Maybe slightly better finish with the undecanted version.
Rating: The Adega on 45th Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 shows a deep black garnet colour with aromas of smoked meat, dark fruits, oak, leather, and sweet spice, adding a touch of tomato after decanting. The palate is smooth and round with medium-plus body, offering black cherries, plums, and blackberries alongside Old World oak, leather, and a touch of pepper, finishing with firmer tannins and lingering dark berry flavours. A structured, elegant wine with a subtle rustic edge.
ANSWER: Did you guess that the other parent grape for Cabernet Sauvignon is Sauvignon Blanc?
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available for purchase online from the winery’s website:
Both wines are listed at Everything Wine, but do not indicate the vintages.
