Poplar Grove Winery Cabernet Franc 2016

Deborah Podurgiel WSET IV Candidate rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

If you’re out winery hopping and are only allowing yourself but one Cabernet Franc from B.C. (although I can’t see how that’s possible) let it be this one. Poplar Grove Winery 2016 Cabernet Franc is an amazing example of what this supporting Bordeaux wine grape can do in the Okanagan as a single varietal. A dark and broody ruby colour in the glass, not so on the palate. Fragrant with dark cherry, blackberry, subtle spice and dried tobacco leaf aromas on the nose, this Cab Franc is dry, opulent and concentrated with mouth-filling layers of ripe raspberry, raspberry leaf, black currant, oak spice and a smattering of white pepper spice, smooth and elegant with a long velvety finish and beautifully-balanced acidity – an absolutely stunning, medium-plus-bodied Cabernet Franc showing great depth of character. Drink or hold to 2025. Decant one hour prior to pouring with a grilled filet mignon. Tasted August 2020.

Select grape bunches were hand-harvested and sorted from several vineyard sites. Grapes were fermented separately with malolactic fermentation occurring in barrel over winter into spring. Wines were kept separate in 30% new oak and a combination of two-to-three year old French oak barrels for 21 months, bottled and aged for a further 12 months prior to its release.

The 2016 vintage was awarded Gold at the London Wine Competition.