Tawse Laundry Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2013

This organic Lincoln Lakeshore cabernet franc is now coming into its own, ruling the branchy, earthy, cigar tobacco, salty raspberry freshness inherent in cabernet franc. And in the process, proving that cab franc is a signature red of Ontario. Red florals, cherry, ample salts is grounded with an herbal thorniness and buoyed by a swell of acidity. Tannins are softening (vs tasting six months ago), melding into a persistent tug to a tight finish. Eighteen months in French oak provided the structure, and Lincoln Lakeshore's long, gentle slopes have formed the curves. This isn't at height yet: give this a year or two in the cellar to really emerge. Score - 92. (Anthony Gismondi, gismondionwine.com, Nov. 10, 2017)