2016 Winemakers Selection Exclamation Cabernet Franc

Exclamation Series
In 2006, Pillitteri Estates Winery’s founders Gary and Lena Pillitteri commissioned the creation of the 23 stainless steel chairs which now hang on the walls of our barrel cellar. The chairs symbolically tell the story of the past, present and future of the Pillitteri family, and add a “new world” element our barrel cellar’s old-world ambiance. Exclamation wines come only from grapes grown in the best vintage years. These wines are exemplary of the commitment that Pillitteri has made to producing world-class wine. These wines are hand-selected by our Winemaker, Aleksandar Kolundzic as his personal favourites and are treated as such by him during their production.

Winemaker’s Select
Only produced in the absolute best growing seasons, the Winemaker’s Select is a limited selection of barrels from within the Exclamation Series that the winemaker identifies as displaying even more complexity and intensity than the rest. These wines are therefore even more age worthy when compared to the other Exclamation wines. For 2016, six barrels from each batch of Exclamation wine were selected and blended into these exceptional and limited bottlings.

Vintage
The 2016 Vintage was extremely hot with little rainfall and lots of sunshine. To protect the grapes, we left foliage on the vines providing extensive canopy. The soil was able to hold moisture through the season to ensure the vines remained healthy in the heat, producing a crop balanced in sugars, water and acidity- a known Niagara trait.

Tasting Notes
The 2016 Winemaker’s Select Cabernet Franc picks up where the silver label Exclamation leaves off but with even more overall intensity. On the nose, it showcases how complex and aromatic Cabernet Franc can be when growing conditions and winemaking practices are perfected. It has notes of black cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry, blackberry jam, fresh mint leaf, and black pepper, along with ample tobacco, leather, baking spice, cedar, and vanilla aromas from its extensive aging in oak barrels. The palate mirrors the nose and although amazingly still in its youth at 7 years of age, it does offer some near-term appeal thanks to very refined, smooth tannins. A fresh, cool-climate acidity brings out more fruit flavours and also provides a unique minerality that adds a lot of complexity to the tasting experience. It finishes long and smooth, with lingering tannins that suggest a long life ahead of the wine for those that are patient enough to cellar it.

100% Cabernet Franc

14.5% alc./vol.

750ml

VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake VQA