Back when Andrew Peller took over Thirty Bench it was a winery that had fallen on hard winemaking times, a winery you would walk through and walk out of with little in the way of a draw; the wines had simply become generic and non-descript. Flash forward a couple of years and the change is amazing; the outside has remained the same, but the inside has become warm and inviting drawing you in deeper and deeper (if only to get a look at the amazing view out the back windows) but the wines have developed into something special too. ‘Red’ is 30 Bench’s new Meritage blend with 65% Cab Sauv, 15% Cab Franc and 10% Merlot, aged 12 months in French oak; the grapes drawn from the hot ripe 2005 vintage. Black cherry, cassis and cedar are the most prominent smells right now – with more on the way, if you’re willing to put some bottle age on it. The flavours follow from the promise of the nose, with a touch of vanilla, cherry and cinnamon on the finish. Drinking now? Then I would recommend decanting, pre-opening or a really big glass. Holding? 3-5 years easy.
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