Two of my favourite things: Peonies and the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Upper Bench Winery & Creamery.
I love that Proprietor and Winemaker, Gavin Miller, refers to Cabernet Sauvignon as the true heartbreak grape of the Okanagan. Cabernet Sauvignon requires a long growing season to fully ripen, something that is difficult to achieve even in the hottest parts of the Okanagan. Gavin feels that “when done properly and cropped correctly, [Cabernet Sauvignon from the Okanagan] can be stunning”[1] and I quite agree. Vintage-after-vintage, Gavin continues to deliver us this fresh and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.
2016 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $40
This wine is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, both estate grown on the Naramata Bench. The vines were cropped low at 2.38 tons per acre and the grapes were harvested on October 18, 2016. The wine was aged for 21 months in French oak (30% new) and only 212 cases of this wine were produced.
I wrote my tasting notes after nine hours in the decanter. This Cabernet Sauvignon has a fairly pronounced nose of blackberry, ripe black cherry, blackcurrant, tobacco and vanilla. This wine is medium+ in body with high acidity and high tannins. The palate has good intensity with velvety tannins as a backdrop. There are flavours of blackberry, black plum, blackcurrant, black liquorice and a long savoury finish. A beautiful wine to drink now and to carefully cellar.
Upper Bench continues to offer free shipping within British Columbia on all wine and cheese orders (no minimum order). To take advantage of this great offer, enter code freeshipping2020 at checkout.
Upper Bench is also offering their 2017 Merlot and 2018 Chardonnay at a discounted price of $20 per bottle until June 30th.
Upper Bench Winery & Creamery is not currently open for tastings, but they are open daily from 10:00-5:00 for wine and cheese purchases.
Footnotes
[1] Schreiner, J. (March 13, 2015). Upper Bench Impresses BC Wine Appreciation Society. Retrieved from: http://johnschreiner.blogspot.com/2015/03/upper-bench-impresses-bc-wine.html