appassimento Archives - whiskytanuki

Foreign Affair Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Colour: Dark garnet core, light garnet rim.

Nose: Dominant black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, raspberry, plum, dried dates, vanilla, cedar, meat, worn leather.

Palate: Off-dry, medium acidity, medium silky tannins. Black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, vanilla sweetness, touch of herbs.

Finish: Long finish, sweet oak, touch of spice.

Score: 85/100

Coming from Vineland (St. Catharines/Niagara), Ontario, Canada. The Foreign Affair winery specializes in Italian wine making style. They make a wide range of wines with various types of grapes, Ripasso style, Appassimento (Partial or Fully), Recioto style.

The Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30%(32%?) of the grapes were set aside for the appassimento process. Aged in French and American oak for 24 months, resulting in a wine with a whopping 15.8% ABV.

The nose is very rich and blasts you in the face with waves after waves of dark fruits. Black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, you name it; followed by dried dates, vanilla, cedar, worn leather, and a faint suggestion of meat. Very welcoming.

On entry, you will notice a very well-rounded mouth-feel. The acidity seemed moderate, perhaps due to the sweetness balancing it off; the tannins are silky smooth.

Just like the nose, loads of black fruit, perhaps jammy, followed by sweet vanilla, and a touch of herbs. Followed by a long finish of sweet oak and touch of spice. You would not have guessed this wine is 15.8% ABV, it drinks more like 14-14.5%.

This wine is very well integrated already, I don’t see it evolving much more in the future, drink now or over the next 3 years.

In a blind tasting, I would’ve thought the wine is older than it is, judging by the colour and tannins.

Fantastic wines coming out from the Niagara region in Ontario right now, not sure about international availability, but be sure to grab one if you see it. Highly recommended for the price.

**Do note this wine is off-dry.

Foreign Affair Dream 2012

Foreign Affair is an Ontario VQA winery, based in the Niagara region. They are famous for using the Italian wine making technique “appassimento”, this technique used for one of Italy’s most famous wine – The Amarone. Appassimento style wines tends to blend grapes that have been dried after picking, therefore concentrating the flavour and sugar content, creating a more powerful wine. They make wines in both partially and fully appassimento style.

The Dream 2012 is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, aged for 26 months in select French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels and the final blend is made up of 15% appassimento wine.

Decanted for 1 hour before consumption.

Colour: Clear dark purple core.

Nose: Ripe juicy cherries, blackberries, plums. Notes of cigar box, vanilla, leather, liquorice, and a hint of spice.
The vanilla notes is rather dominate on the nose, smells almost dessert-like.

Palate: Off-dry, medium acidity, medium silky tannins. Dried dark fruits, consists of dried cherries, raisins, blackberries. Touch of vanilla and well integrated oak.

Finish: Long finish, touch of tingling pepper on the back end.

Score: 83/100

A great wine at a great price, would buy another or two to see how it develops with time. Off-dry, dark fruit forward with a touch of spice and well integrated oak to balance the flavour. Great length on the finish, would recommend to both beginners and enthusiasts.

Overall really enjoyable wine, on its own or with food, I am afraid this might not have enough tannins to cut through some of the fatty meats, would work well with stews and lamb.

Ready to drink, could be cellared for at least 5+ years.

**Do note I score a bit tighter than the majority.