Bench 1775 Winery 2025 Subscription

Viognier, 2022

Tasting notes and review by Valerie van der Gracht.

Name: 2022 Viognier
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12.6%
Residual Sugar: 0.894 g/L
Volume: 750mL

Appearance: A colour of fresh straw, the wine is clear in the glass and quite golden but a light gold.
Nose: Hints of citrus and stone fruit, a tiny bit stinky but that may be the effect of slight oakiness also floral notes with cut grass mixed in. Some hay. A slight aroma of cherries, freshly picked as they start to ripen.
Palate: Pronounced acidity with lingering notes of citrus and some limestone. Medium body with pleasant minerality, herbaceous. I thought perhaps a touch of oak on the palate. 

Quality: 90+ points. Outstanding. Drink now and enjoy!

Food Pairing: I would pair this wine with any white fish or shellfish and crustaceans. It would also pair nicely with creamy, mild cheeses, prosciutto, Queen olives and a fresh baguette.

Cabernet Franc, 2018

Name: 2018 Cabernet Franc
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard, Osoyoos
Alcohol: 14.8%
Residual Sugar: 0.211 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 310

Appearance: Deep ruby in colour, with a slight garnet hue beginning to show on the rim.
Nose: Aromatically layered, offering immediate notes of violets and white flowers before opening up to raspberry preserves, ripe plums, and a hint of blueberry. A green herbal lift of capsicum and dried oregano follows, all wrapped in a whisper of smoky oak.
Palate: Full-bodied and structured with velvety tannins and balanced acidity. Dark plum and raspberry dominate the mid-palate, with subtle blueberry and peppercorn spice in the background. A persistent savoury element builds, complemented by cedar and a slightly smoky, elegant finish. The 28 months in oak shows through in texture and length, not overpowering, but confidently present.

Food Pairing: A wine made for protein-rich, herbaceous dishes. Serve this alongside a herb-crusted rack of lamb or roasted duck with pomegranate glaze. For something a little more adventurous, try it with grilled sweetbreads, charred eggplant and freekeh pilaf with Za’atar and pomegranate, and squab served with lentils and red wine jus.

Riesling, 2021

Tasting notes and review by Tony Aspler.

Name: 2021 Riesling
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: “This Is It” Vineyard
Alcohol: 10.5%
Residual Sugar: 30.51 g/L
Volume: 750mL

Appearance: Golden colour.
Nose: Minerally, floral, grapefruit nose.
Palate: Light-bodied, off-dry, honeyed apple and Meyer lemon flavours with balancing acidity.

Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. A well-made wine. Drink now and through 2027.

Food Pairing: Spicy Thai green curry with shrimp, duck confit with apple slaw, pork tenderloin with apple compote, and caramelized onion & pear flatbread with arugula.

Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah, 2019

Tasting notes and review by Valerie van der Gracht.

Name: 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (68%), Syrah (32%)
Vineyard: An Osoyoos vineyard
Alcohol: 14.6%
Residual Sugar: Dry
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,750

Appearance: Dark ruby red.
Nose: Bursting with fruit scents of black raspberries, boysenberries and cranberry. Orange with a hint of spice and freshly ground black pepper, following with red apple and banana.
Palate: Complex, robust and boldly ripe and rich. Smooth and lingering. Spicy leather notes on the palate. Rather elegant with pronounced but delicious tannins. Lovely dark fruit lingers in the mouth.

Quality: 91 points. Outstanding. 

Food Pairing: Perfectly suited to a rare steak, a baked potato with butter, sour cream and chopped chives, add some lightly steamed green beans or anything smothered in barbecue sauce would be a hit.

I also enjoyed the wine with a tomato and burrata salad to which I add whatever extras I have on hand, this time that was sliced, fresh Ontario strawberries but it also works with whatever is in season including cooked beets of any colour with blackberries for the extra fruit. Top with a good quality olive oil and a balsamic glaze.

Additional Pairings: Chorizo and Manchego croquettes with smoked paprika aioli and grilled jackfruit and black bean enchiladas with mole sauce.

Glow Rosé, 2022

Tasting notes and review by Valerie van der Gracht.

Name: 2022 Glow Rosé
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: “This Is It” Vineyard and Partridge Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.3%
Residual Sugar: 1.66 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,300

Appearance: A lovely clear amber colour like a sunset in summer
Nose: Delicate scents of citrus and Freestone peaches somewhat tropical with subtle pineapple. Just a bit of pleasant dusty rose as it sits in the glass and aromas of strawberries emerge along with red stone fruit and apricot.
Palate: Light, crisp and fresh with very nice acidity. A touch of spice joins the fruit flavours. Some Meyer lemon with juicy Honeydew along with a touch of Valencia oranges. As it sits the strawberry flavour in the mouth becomes more pronounced. 

Quality: 88+ points. Very Good+. 

Food Pairing: I’m going with colour matching for this pairing. The colour of the wine makes me think of wild Sockeye salmon and I think it would make the perfect pairing, either barbecued or steamed in a wok with garlic and ginger. Both would compliment the spice I enjoy on the finish.

Additional Pairings: Prosciutto and melon skewers with balsamic reduction, grilled chicken souvlaki with tzatziki and lemon potatoes, and beet carpaccio with feta, pistachio, and orange zest.

Merlot, 2019

Tasting notes and review by Tony Aspler.

Name: 2019 Merlot
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 15.9%
Residual Sugar: Dry
Volume: 750mL

Appearance:  Deep purple-ruby in colour.
Nose: Lightly floral, black cherry bouquet with vanilla oak notes.
Palate: Full-bodied, dry. Firmly structured with evident but ripe tannins. Forward flavours of plum and red berry fruit.

Quality: 89 – 90 points. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Hold for 1–2 years.

Food Pairing: Braised lamb shanks with red wine jus, beef tenderloin with blackberry reduction, smoked gouda and caramelized onion tart, and stuffed portobello mushrooms with puy lentils and balsamic glaze.

Riesling Brut, 2020

Tasting notes and review by Tony Aspler.

Name: 2020 Riesling Brut
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: “This Is It” Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: Off-dry
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 300

Appearance:  Bright yellow gold in colour, with an active mousse of tiny bubbles
Nose: Light floral nose of lilac, pink grapefruit, and apple.
Palate: Light-bodied, just off-dry, grapefruit, ripe pear and honeyed mango flavours. Good length. 

Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. Drink now.

Food Pairing: Seared scallops with citrus beurre blanc, Vietnamese shrimp fresh rolls with mango and mint, chicken piccata with lemon caper sauce, and chilled avocado and grapefruit salad with toasted almonds.

Syrah, 2021

Tasting notes and review by Tony Aspler.

Name: 2021 Syrah
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Similkameen Valley
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Similkameen Valley vineyard
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 0.241 g/L
Volume: 750mL

Appearance: Dense purple in colour.
Nose: Spicy, peppery, blackberry nose with a hint of tar.
Palate: Full-bodied, dry, savoury, smoked meat and blackberry flavours carried on lively acidity. Firmly structured, well-balanced, and good length.

Quality: 91 points. Outstanding. Hold 1–2 years.

Food Pairing: Moroccan lamb tagine with apricots and almonds, BBQ short ribs with espresso dry rub, grilled venison sausages with blackberry gastrique, and charred eggplant with tahini, pomegranate and mint.

Geüwrztraminer, 2021

Tasting notes and review by Tony Aspler.

Name: 2021 Gewürztraminer
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Gewürztraminer
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard, Willow Creek Vineyard, “This Is It” Vineyard, and Parsons Vineyard
Alcohol: 15.6%
Residual Sugar: 0.046 g/L
Volume: 750mL

Appearance: Golden straw in colour with a lime tint.
Nose: Pronounced lychee and ginger bouquet.
Palate: Full-bodied, dry, richly extracted lychee, passionfruit, and peach flavours.

Quality: 89 points. Very Good+. Drink now and through 2026.

Food Pairing: Korean BBQ pork bulgogi with sesame slaw, butter chicken with saffron rice, peking duck tacos with hoisin and pickled daikon, and paneer tikka with mint-cilantro chutney.

Pinot Noir, 2022

Tasting notes and review by Tony Aspler.

Name: 2022 Pinot Noir
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 0 g/L
Volume: 750mL

Appearance: Ruby colour. 
Nose: Lifted, lightly floral, black raspberry bouquet with oak spice. 
Palate: Full-bodied, dry, cherry and plum flavour with a touch of volatility and a spine of brisk acidity.

Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2027.

Food Pairing: Duck rillettes with cranberry compote on crostini, grilled salmon with balsamic glaze and lentils, porchetta with fennel and herb stuffing, and wild mushroom and truffle risotto.

Marechal Foch, 2021

Tasting notes and review by Valerie van der Gracht.

Name: 2021 Marechal Foch
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Similkameen Valley
Varietal: Marechal Foch
Vineyard: Similkameen Valley vineyard
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugar: 0.201 g/L
Volume: 750mL

Appearance: A very dark, rich red with amber highlights.
Nose: At first sniff it is all black cherries then the enticing aroma of just a touch of smokiness followed by ripe blackberries and a little blueberry with an intriguing spice on the nose.
Palate: This wine is rich and ripe and so very smooth. Some pleasant tartness on the finish with very manageable tannins. The spiciness on the nose follows to the palate and is pleasantly lingering with pronounced flavours of more dark cherries, almond and cranberry which add to the velvety, ever so lightly smoky finish.

Quality: 89+ points. Very Good+. 

Food Pairing: Oven roasted beef with accompaniments like horseradish, Dijon mustard or garlic beef dip. At this time of year I would skip the garlic mashed potatoes and gravy and try for tangier accompaniments to match the smoky undertones and the delectable spice.

I was able to pair this wine, thanks to an invitation to the home of a family member, with what I thought was the ideal menu. Oven roasted beef (done at high heat for 7 minutes a pound, turn off the oven, and leave until it’s the internal temperature you choose) sliced and served on buttery, toasted Brioche buns with garden fresh arugula, horseradish sauce and Dijon mustard, along with a chunky potato salad with chive flowers and a tender Romaine salad with a tangy vinaigrette.

Time didn’t allow for decanting the wine this time even though I normally would have. The wine was so delicious and paired so well with the roast beef, accompaniments and sides we just enjoyed it without the extra step.

Although this wine was very enjoyable now it would also be worthwhile putting a few bottles aside for two or three years.

Additional Pairings: Smoked brisket sliders with pickled red onion, wild boar ragu over chestnut pappardelle, and sweet potato and black garlic gnocchi with sage brown butter.

Red Meritage, 2018

Tasting notes and review by Valerie van der Gracht.

Name: 2018 Red Meritage
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot (61%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%), Cabernet Franc (12%), Petit Verdot (9%)
Vineyard: Various vineyards in Osoyoos and Naramata
Alcohol: 14.8%
Residual Sugar: 0.95 g/L
Volume: 750mL

Appearance: A beautiful ruby red with amber highlights.
Nose: Dark cherries hit the nose with a wow, followed by juicy, ripe blackberries and a hint of port.
Palate: Deliciously rich and ripe with flavours of home-canned Bing cherries in syrup. Medium to heavier tannins but pleasant enough. Velvety smooth goodness in the mouth that lingers.

Quality: 89+ points. Very Good+. This one knocks it out of the park.

Food Pairing: This wine is versatile and changes with the seasons; beef stew or pot roast in the fall, French onion soup in the dead of winter and almost any beef barbecue now and in summer. Ideal as a match with beef short ribs, be sure to add a bit to the sauce.