2020 Creekside Cellars Cabernet Franc – Spectacular Wine and Grand Sweepstakes Winner at 6th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
At the 6th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition Creekside Cellars entered for their first time and came away with lots of awards. First, they won Best of Class and Double Gold Medals in the Southwest Division (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas) from the People’s Choice Judges. Secondly, they stole the show winning the Grand Sweepstakes from almost 100 wines submitted from 14 states and 3 countries! The Professional Judge’s awarded them a Silver Medal. This marks the first time a Grand Sweepstakes winner came from outside of California. Past winners hailed from Sonoma, Napa, Livermore Valley, Paso Robles, etc.
The Winery & AVA
Photo of Grand Valley AVA from Wikipedia
Bill and Anita Donahue turned a hobby started in the early 1980’s into a family business. Creekside Cellars became a bonded Colorado winery. They opened their doors in 2000 and in 2002 planted their own vines in Palisade, Colorado called the Vinelands. All their wines are produced in Evergreen, Colorado with 100% Colorado fruit.
Photo of Creekside Cellars tasting room from their website
They are located at 28036 CO-74 in Evergreen, Colorado. The winery is about 33 miles west/southwest from Denver City Center. The Vineland vineyard is located at 5,000 feet elevation in the Grand Valley AVA which ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 feet elevation.
Photo of Creekside Cellars deck from their website
Creekside doubles as a Mediterranean café with an outdoor deck overhanging Bear Creek. This setting is ideal to indulge in mouthwatering treats and delicious wines. Creekside café is well known for their paninis, salads, olives, fine cheese and scrumptious antipasto platters, a crowd favorite, while sipping a bottle of their wines.
Photo of Creekside Cellars website
Today for their white wines they produce Chardonnay, Viognier, Riesling and Roussanne. For their red wines they offer Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Rosso, Robusto and of course their Cabernet Franc. They do offer an assortment of dessert wines. Over the years the winery has won the Governor’s Cup Case Best of Show for their red wines (Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, etc.). A very nice feat for a winery producing between 1,500 to 2,000 cases annually.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
When talking with Bill about the ownership of the winery and winemaking in a conversation he stated “the winery owns me”. A candid insight to his dedication to the winery and producing quality wines.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
He uses 100% new tight grain oak barrels from the Appalachians with a variety of toasting levels. He mentioned he has less than a dozen cases in inventory and 2021 Cabernet Franc vineyards were decimated by hard frost. His next release will be the 2022 vintage being released early summer.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the eyes a very deep dark almost black coloring and heavy weight viscosity. Immediately upon opening the bottle it was very tight with almost no aroma. Let it breathe for over one hour, then the aromas burst forth like trumpeters announcing the king is arriving! The senses were engulfed with blackberries, cloves and oak. Once a sip was taken, the palate was immersed in blackberries, black tea and vanilla with no pyrazines (bell pepper notes). In speaking with Bill, he had mentioned that at 5,000 feet elevation the intense sunlight burns out the pyrazines to make a silky-smooth Cabernet Franc and indeed that was evident. At the finish it was calm as a reflective lake with stillness, yet tannins, leather, roasted coffee and soft pipe tobacco were present with either vanilla or caramel. This wine can be enjoyed by itself but with food it comes to its fullness.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The wine is listed on their website at $45/bottle and is aged 36 months in Appalachian oak barrels delivering a complex and structured wine. This wine will make my annual Best Wines Tasted for 2025 both for quality and value in the under $50/bottle category!
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a tenderized 8-hour marinated tri-tip steak in Chaka sauce. Seared at 1500 degrees on the barbeque and served medium rare. Accompanied by a Yukon potato and medley of various halved tomatoes (cherry and Valentino) seasoned with virgin olive oil, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning/herbs, Himalayan Sea salt, pepper with Italian mozzarella balls and fresh basil.
A wonderful food and wine pairing that was enjoyed while sipping this wonderful wine!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly