Are you a Merlot fan, or do you find Merlot to be mundane?
If you fall into the latter category, I think this Merlot might just change your perception.
After two hours in the decanter, the 2016 Upper Bench Estate Merlot offers aromas of ripe blackberries, cassis, cherries, black liquorice and clove.
The body is medium+, the tannins are medium and the acidity is high but balanced by concentrated fruit flavours on the palate.
The juicy palate has fresh blackberries, sour cherry pie filling, herbaceous dried cherries and vanilla with a medium+ finish.
This wine is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, both grown on the Naramata Bench. The vineyards were cropped at 3.9 tons per acre, and harvested on October 7th, 2016. The wine was aged for 21 months in French oak (33% new) and only 236 cases were produced.
I am of fan of the wines at Upper Bench, especially their estate grown bottlings. Upper Bench Winery & Creamery really is a “must stop” if you are in the Okanagan. They not only craft amazing wines, but they make incredible cheeses and have a wine bar (complete with pizza oven) right next to the vineyard – heaven on earth!
170 Upper Bench Road South
Penticton, British Columbia
Canada
V2A 8T1
1-250-770-1733