Napa Bench is a collaboration between two wine industry veterans, Tom Hinde and David Sayre. Hinde has been a winemaker and/or general manager at many acclaimed properties, including La Crema Winery, Hartford Family Winery, Taub Family Vineyards, Flowers, and Yao Ming Wines, where he was founding winemaker. Sayre has been winemaker at Stonehedge Winery and has created a wide range of brands and labels. They describe this wine as “a whimsical blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. We start with Cabernet Sauvignon 95%, add Merlot 3%, and finish with Petite Verdot 2%. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 16 months. Vineyards range from our benchland site in Yountville to Northern St. Helena. The clonal selection includes Cabernet Sauvignon 337,4 and 6. The soils are alluvial fan and volcanic rock at an elevation between 70-548 meters (200-1800 feet) above sea level.”
Country | USA |
Region | California |
Appellation(s) | Napa Valley |
Winery | Napa Bench |
Vintage | 2019 |
Color | Red |
Varietal(s) | 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot |
Closure | Cork |
Volume | 750ml |
Bottle Size | 8.5 x 31.0 |
Case Size | 35.0 x 26.5 x 32.0 |
Alcohol | 13.9% |
Product Code | NB19NCB |
UPC | 891451000189 |
Opaque dark purple with a bright purple rim. A bright berry fruit nose with hints of flowers and orange peel leads to a sharp entry and a burst of flavors -- red cherry, plums, red licorice, and currants with a hint of vanilla. Nice, fresh texture with supple tannins and a long finish.
After harvest, the fruit was given a cold soak of 5-7 days, with skin contact lasting a total of 30 - 34 days. The wine aged 16 months in 65% new French oak and was bottled unfiltered