Would you like a bold BC red wine to go with your roast beef dinner this December? Then Upper Bench’s Yard Wine 2018 will fit the bill. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Let me tell you about it.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Upper Bench Estate Winery Yard Wine 2018 (BC $33)
The wine was fermented using indigenous yeasts then aged for 18 months in 30% new French oak. The wine was un-fined during bottling. 185 cases were produced.
Appearance: Opaque dull garnet in colour.
Nose: A medium intensity nose with a mix of candied and black cherries, blackberries, vanilla, cedar and sweet spices. You get more ripe dark fruits with decanting along with the vanilla, sweet spices and cedar aromas.
Palate: Dry with a lighter mouthfeel, but get a bit bigger and rounder with air. Is still lean on the palate. Medium-drying tannins that get stronger toward the finish. Black fruit, plums, blackberries and black cherries, along with some candied cherries, sweet spices, cedar and oak touches on the palate. The wine becomes smoother and rounder with softer tannins after decanting. You still get the dark fruits, sweet spices and candied cherries on the palate. You can add a touch of chocolate toward the finish.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with firm drying tannins, sweet black fruit, sweet spices, cedar, and then plums at the very end. Less drying tannins with decanting, same flavours plus a touch of chocolate.
Rating: 
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
The 2018 is now sold out when I checked the winery website, and the 2019 is now for sale. I checked the winery tasting notes and it looks similar to the 2018; a big wine. Give it a try. You can buy it through the Upper Bench Estate Winery website.