Bench 1775 Winery
We were proud to feature Bench 1775 Winery in November 2018.
There’s something very special about life on the Bench.
Found in the heart of wine country in beautiful British Columbia, Bench 1775 is located on the southern shore of Lake Okanagan. Named after the address of our winery, 1775 Naramata Road, along the beautiful Naramata Bench, Bench 1775 Winery is a celebration of land and place. Wines from Bench 1775 are produced with the unique expression of fruit grown in the Okanagan Valley from three vineyard locations: Oxbow Vineyard, on the original Golden Mile in Osoyoos, South Okanagan, and at Paradise Ranch Vineyard and Soaring Eagle Vineyard in the Central Okanagan.
Tasting Notes
SEMILLON, 2016
Bench 1775 Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Semillon
Vineyard: Naramata Bench & Oliver, BC vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Volume: 750 mL
Cases Produced: 450
Appearance: Pale straw colour.
Nose: Slightly reductive nose of lanolin, green tobacco and green apple.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, crisp and minerally with a suggestion of salt on the finish. Zesty acidity and a little brittle on the end taste.
Quality: Very Good+ quality. Drinking nicely now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
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Food Pairing: Grilled oysters with spicy tarragon butter, foie gras with figs, spicy Korean-style pork medallions with Asian slaw, ginger catfish or shrimp ceviche with cilantro-lime vinaigrette.
Comment:
I first met Bench 1775’s viticulturist and winemaker, Val Tait, in 2013 and have been delighted to watch the winery grow and evolve under her care. Every year, their wines achieve new heights of quality and their accolades grow accordingly. It’s no surprise that Bench 1775 is now one of the country’s most esteemed wineries, ranking among the Top 8 wineries of Canada in this year’s National Wine Awards.
This Semillon scored a coveted Platinum Award at the 2018 Nationals and has gorgeous citrus and tropical fruit notes with a balanced acidity. It’s very sippable, but also food-friendly – try it with rotisserie chicken with lemon, pepper and green herbs. Enjoy!
– Jackie McLachlan, Founder, My Wine Canada
MERLOT, 2014
Bench 1775 Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Oxbow Vineyard, BC
Alcohol: 14.5%
Volume: 750 mL
Cases Produced: 1,000
Appearance: Deep, dark ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, blueberry nose with a light floral note backed by oak spice.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, dry and savoury with dark chocolate and blueberry flavours, well-balanced with nicely integrated oak and finishing on cocoa powder tannins.
Quality: Outstanding quality. Great structure. Hold 2 – 3 years.
Critic Rating: 93 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
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Food Pairing: Roasted duck with mole sauce, roasted beets, chicken thighs brushed with lemon and thyme, grilled swordfish with mint-cucumber salad, lamb burgers topped with tapenade and arugula, grilled filet mignon in blue cheese butter.
Comment:
I first met Bench 1775’s viticulturist and winemaker, Val Tait, in 2013 and have been delighted to watch the winery grow and evolve under her care. Every year, their wines achieve new heights of quality and their accolades grow accordingly. It’s no surprise that Bench 1775 is now one of the country’s most esteemed wineries, ranking among the Top 8 wineries of Canada in this year’s National Wine Awards.
This is a succulent, jammy Merlot with lovely hints of licorice, black pepper, green herbs, and smoke. Robust tannins balance the flavour palette perfectly. This is a wine to savour – along with your favourite cheeses and charcuterie. Enjoy!
– Jackie McLachlan, Founder, My Wine Canada
ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2017
Bench 1775 Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: 1775 Estate Vineyard, BC
Alcohol: 13.2%
Volume: 750 mL
Cases Produced: 373
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Herbaceous, green plum bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, fresh and lively on the palate with a green peach flavor, lemony acidity and an engaging floral note. Great length and fine mouth-feel. Very white Bordeaux in style.
Quality: Outstanding quality. Drink now or within two years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
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Food Pairing: Artichoke salad with lemon and mint, grilled vegetable pasta with cumin, chargrilled squid with salt and pepper, lemon garlic shrimp skewers, and spaghetti with anchovy Carbonara.
CABERNET FRANC MALBEC, 2015
Bench 1775 Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (50%) & Malbec (50%)
Vineyard: Oxbow Vineyard, BC
Alcohol: 13.5%
Volume: 750 mL
Cases Produced: 488
Appearance: Dense ruby-purple colour.
Nose: Cedary, leafy, black plum nose.
Palate: Full-bodied, smoky, licorice and black fruit flavours; rich mouth-feel with well-extracted ripe fruit flavours kept in check by charred oak notes, ripe tannins and fresh acidity.
Quality: Outstanding quality. Drinking well now but can hold for 2 – 3 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
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Food Pairing: Stuffed bell peppers with wild rice and mushrooms, rosemary rubbed Rib-Eye steak, roasted eggplant, turkey meatloaf with feta and sun-dried tomatoes, venison with pearl onions and smoked bacon.
VIOGNIER, 2016
Bench 1775 Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Viognier (95%), Pinot Gris (5%)
Vineyard: Osoyoos & Naramata Bench vineyards, BC
Alcohol: 13.5%
Volume: 750 mL
Cases Produced: 900
Appearance: Light straw colour.
Nose: A bouquet of honeysuckle, melon and peach and a thread of minerality (the reductive notes blow off quickly).
Palate: Medium-bodied, aromatic, peachy-melon flavour carried on lively acidity.
Quality: Outstanding quality. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
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Food Pairing: Grilled sea bass with Miso, red curry chicken with peanuts, pork chops with raisins and apricots, sesame tempeh, and roasted potatoes seasoned with lemon, fennel, and herbs.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON SYRAH, 2015
Bench 1775 Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) & Syrah (40%)
Vineyard: Gold Hill Vineyard, BC
Alcohol: 13.8%
Volume: 750 mL
Cases Produced: 550
Appearance: Dense ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, gently herbal, blackberry and currant nose with vanilla oak spice.
Palate: Full-bodied, dry, savoury-herbal, blackberry flavour with a tarry note; very much in St. Joseph style. Mouth-filling and richly satisfying, finishing with chewy tannins.
Quality: Outstanding quality. Hold 1 -2 years.
Critic Rating: 92 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
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Food Pairing: Osso Buco, grilled New York strip steak, braised lamb shanks with tomatoes and cumin, grilled fennel and beets with sautéed rapini, chili Colorado, smoked seitan with grilled onions and green and red peppers.