WTN: Thirty Bench Red 2005

Thirty Bench Wine Makers.
Beamsville Bench (Ontario).


A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (65 per cent), Cabernet Franc (25) and Merlot.

Very dark red in the glass.

Red and black licorice, cherry fruit, spicy on the nose.

Black cherry, creamy, round, smooth and silky, chocolate, good acidity, a hint of beets, a good earthy bite and drying toward the end.

Drying with raspberry-like tartness on the finish.

A classy wine, big and rich without being thick or heavy. Possibly the best Ontario red I have ever enjoyed.

A steal at $19.95 (Canadian). In my humble opinion, the wine is easily worth twice that.

In a good year, which 2005 was, Ontario can get it done. Are you going to lay any of this wine down for another 5-7 years? This year is also going to be excellent from the area. I have about 11 gallons of 2 parts CF and 1 part Merlot going from must I obtained in NOTL. I hope to keep my hands off it for a few years.

Are you going to lay any of this wine down for another 5-7 years?

I was able to buy only two bottles and I am not sure how long I will be able to keep my hands off it Howie!! The LCBO didn't release a lot of it and a couple of Ontario wine critics gave this wine high marks so it went fast.

Good price though. I checked the winery web site and it is selling the Thirty Bench Red 2005 for $22, a bit more than the $19.95 I bought it for.