by Louise Boutin, winecurrent.com
Legacy Infinity Vintage Cabernet Franc is the latest gem in the Vineland Estate portfolio. Inspired by the solera system and discretely crafted over the last decade, Chief winemaker Brian Schmidt’s new baby will be released next spring and winecurrent.com got a preview of it with a virtual barrel tasting.
Best thriving cabernet franc, clone 214, planted in 2010 on the one acre Legacy block—best south-facing slope—of their unique Bo-Teek parcel are optically sorted to select the cream of the crop to enter this special eternal blend.
The goal here is truly pure terroir expression of cabernet franc with limited intervention and neutral oak usage in the winemaking process. Each year, 1800L of the multiple vintage blend, starting with vintage 2012, will be married with the new vintage. From that new blend, limited bottling in 1.5L magnums will be released and the remaining 1800L will patiently wait in three neutral 600L oak barrels a.k.a. demi-muid for the following vintage to join in vintage after vintage, despite mother nature’s blessings or curses, the cabernet franc personality will express itself in a way that adds a piece of history in the next bottling of this infinity vintage.
This project is Vineland Estates’ way of passing a long-lasting passion for cabernet franc to the next generations.
Tasting note:
Vineland Estates « Legacy » Infinity Vintage Cabernet Franc (release-spring 2022)
Considering that there is a fair portion of older vintages in this blend, the colour is surprisingly young looking with deep-ruby shades. The first aromas announces a real treat for the senses—dark cherry, blackberry, pencil shaving, black tea, bell pepper and black peppercorn are profound, tightly knit and cohabit with great harmony. The palate welcomes a soft and juicy flow of black and red cherry flavours along with bright raspberry notes, lots of savoury tones and a delectable green peppercorn piquant long finish. This is medium-full bodied with fine-grained dusty tannins offering a good grip on the gums and a promise for longevity. It’s got a few more months to mature before bottling but this barrel sample is extremely promising and will definitely be worth watching upon release as well as with additional years of cellaring. (Louise Boutin, winecurrent.com)