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.
