Community Review

Painted Rock Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2015

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia V.Q.A., Canada

Community Score: 4.6/5
Community Reviews: 4

Price: $50.00

Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 14.8%

Drink: 2018-2023

Bottle size: 750 ml
Winery: Painted Rock Estate Winery

Deborah Podurgiel WSET IV Candidate rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

“Painted Rock” Estate Winery was so named after the five-century-old native pictographs discovered on the 60-acre property, once the largest apricot orchard in the British Commonwealth, until the orchard fell prey to the gypsy moth infestation of the late-1980s. The property was to become a vineyard, "The Black Hawk," but didn’t until John and Patricia Skinner acquired it, reconfigured it and planted it in Cabernet, Syrah and Chardonnay grapevines in 2005. Since then, Painted Rock winery and their estate wines have won many awards, not the least of which was the 2014/2015 InterVin International “Winery of the Year”. But Painted Rock Estate Winery is more about being a family affair then it is about winning awards. John Skinner’s vision then and now is still about creating “exceptional estate wines” and one of these is their Estate Grown 2015 Cabernet Franc.

I love Cabernet Franc and have tasted many a Loire and several of British Columbia’s single-varietal cab francs to know that this varietal shows so much range and diversity in cool climate vineyards and is increasingly showing promise in BC. So, I was thrilled to be able to sample Painted Rock’s, Estate Grown Cabernet Franc 2015 (unfiltered). This is a big wine at 15.3% abv, but the wine handles it so gracefully. In the glass the wine is deep, ruby red. The first note on the nose is a pronounced smoky vanilla followed up with violets, wild iris and cassis. Through the florals and cassis, dark raspberry, mocha and baked goods (like a raspberry Danish pastry) come through. Then, there is the pencil shavings, dried herbs and interesting replays of the florals, cassis and smoky vanilla.

When I finally got around to tasting it, on the palate, the wine is dry, medium-plus bodied with ripe, crushed raspberry, mocha, pencil shavings, earthy dried herbs, florals and a lingering white pepper finish. This is a wine to think about with many layers, replays, great structure and balanced acidity. Tannins are slightly grippy and working toward becoming velvety. Pair with an autumn sunset. However, since the wine is 15.3% abv, pair with roast herbed chicken, or a goat cheese, arugula, spring greens salad and raspberry vinaigrette

Read Natalie's Full Review

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

SAVE MY SEAT!

Wine of the Week

As featured on

Charles Baker White Wine
Riesling 2021,
Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,879 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources. learn more

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,879 strong:

Community Review