Rockway Glen is changing its name, changing its look and it seems changing the way it makes wine. I tried three of their Small Lot wines in one sitting and went from skeptical to impressed in a matter of minutes. I first tried the whites and said to myself, “these are the best Rockway wines I’ve had in quite some time”, no sooner had that thought dissipated from my head that I tried this Small Lot Cabernet Franc and knew that Rockway Glen (now Vineyards) might finally be onto something good. Here we have a best barrels, 172 case production wine that shows real promise for the future of Rockway’s wine program. Sure I have a soft spot for Cabernet Franc but that does impair my judgment about finding a good one – in fact I am more finicky about Franc because I do see it as Ontario red grape. Reading winemaker David Stasiuk’s bio it says that his two great passion grapes are Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc (at least he’s half my kinda guy) – and it really shows here. Nose of tobacco with some cherry, but it remains mainly closed. The palate is much more expressive: Tobacco, blackberry, black cherry, smoky and spicy with tannins that hang out along the sidelines adding depth without overpowering. Price: $23.95 – Rating: ****+