Whenever someone declares and international wine day, we gather around some prime examples of that varietal, and we get tasting!
On September 2nd it was International Cabernet Sauvignon Day, so we put together an impressive selection of 20 Cab Sauvs, including 4 international examples and 16 from across Canada.
You might wonder, can Canada make good Cabernet Sauvignon? Isn’t it difficult to ripen Cab Sauv in Canada with our cooler climate?
We were live on social media for over 4 hours tasting and reviewing these wines, with winemakers stopping by to share their passion for the varietal.
The verdict? Not only can we make Cab Sauv in Canada, our Cab Sauv out-performed the international examples, and in some cases this was by a long shot.
Here are four terrific Niagara Cabernet Sauvignons showcasing the world class terroir and winemaking from Niagara:
2017 Icellars Estate Winery Cab Sauv
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Icel Vineyard
94pts Carl’s Wine Club | #1 Wine, Cab Sauv Day 2021
?Big, bold, rich and explosive. This wine has everything you can expect from a big Cabernet. The tannins are grippy but plush, the finish is
incredibly long and complex. Absolutely WOW. Here is a candidate for Wine of the Year! Just opening up at the moment, will be priming in 3 years. Sooooo much long-term potential here.
Check out Icellars and add them to your WhenInNiagara itinerary!
2018 Big Head Wines “Select”
Cab Sauv, Appassimento
Niagara Peninsula
93pts Carl’s Wine Club
?Balance, longevity and complexity is the focal point here. A wonderful symphony of flavours, all in the perfect order. There is a wonderful deal of complexity. This wine is just starting to shine – wait another 3 years for maximum enjoyment.
Check out Big Head Wines and add them to your WhenInNiagara itinerary!
2016 PondView at Bella Terra Vineyards –
Bella Terra Cab Sauv
Four Mile Creek
92pts Carl’s Wine Club
?With a medium body framework, this wine is all about elegance, finesse and subtlety. The length is also impressive. Priming at the moment.
Check out Bella Terra Vineyards and add them to your WhenInNiagara itinerary!
2016 The Foreign Affair Winery
Cab Sauv Appassimento
Niagara Peninsula
92pts Carl’s Wine Club
?Power and concentration. The Appassimento is more obvious and shining in every aspect. The length is great in this never-ending experience. Very well done and ready to drink.
Check out The Foreign Affair Winery and add them to your WhenInNiagara itinerary!
Here’s the full list of wines we tasted:
2016 Foreign Affair Cabernet Sauvignon | 92pts CWC
2018 Big Head Appassimento Cabernet Sauvignon “Select” | 93pts CWC
2018 Big Head Raw Cabernet Sauvignon | 91pts CWC
2019 Marynissen Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon | 89pts CWC
2019 Marynissen Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon | 87pts CWC
2017 Icellars Cabernet Sauvignon | 94pts CWC with possibility of 94-95 with aging
2016 Bella Terra Cabernet Sauvignon | 92pts CWC
2017 Lakeside Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon | 91pts CWC
2020 Lakeside Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Rose | 88pts CWC
2019 Mt. Boucherie Original Vines Cabernet Sauvignon (Not Released) | 92+pts CWC
2018 Corcelettes Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | 93+pts CWC with possibility of 95 with aging
2018 Desert Hills Cabernet Sauvignon | 89pts CWC
2016 Black Market Unsanctioned Series Cabernet Sauvignon | 93pts CWC
2018 Priest Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (Not Released – Barrel Sample)
2019 Intersection Small Lot Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Not Released) | 92pts CWC with potential for 94pts
2018 Tender Hope Phinny Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (Kelowna BC / Washington State USA) | 90pts CWC
2017 Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) | 90pts CWC
2019 Duckhorn Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon (California USA) | 89pts CWC
2018 Casa Lapostole Cuvee Alexander Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile) | 86pts CWC
2018 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon | 91pts CWC
Join Carl’s Wine Club for free and discover more world-class Canadian wines! https://www.carlswineclub.com/jointheclub
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