BC’s Township 7 Vineyards & Winery has two elegant red wines that should go well with our beautiful summer plans of a BBQ with family or friends. The wines I received to review are their Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series NBO 2022 and Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series Reserve 7 2022. Both wines are blends. The Reserve 7 2022 is made using 56% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 19% Cabernet Franc grapes, while the NBO 2022 uses 55.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 44.1% Merlot grapes. Both wines are vegan-friendly. Let me tell you about these two wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series NBO 2022 (BC $44.97)
Winemaker’s notes, “This blend of 55.9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44.1% Merlot beautifully reflects our Blue Terrace Vineyard terroir. Planted over two decades ago, its stony soils retain warmth through cool autumn evenings, allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen fully. The Merlot contributes finesse and suppleness to the Cabernet’s structure. This full-bodied wine fermented in both large-format wood and stainless
steel with daily remontage. It was barrel aged 24 months in 225L French (70%) and American (30%) oak barriques, 15% new.”
If you are wondering what “NBO” stands for, it is their North Bench Oliver estate.
Appearance: A clear, deeper garnet colour in the glass. Almost 98% opaque to the rim.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of plums, black fruit, some oakiness, and touches of cinnamon and earthiness. After decanting, you get nutmeg replacing the cinnamon scent.
Palate: Dry, lighter body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Lower acidity, and soft, but drying tannins. Plums, black fruit, black berries, char and oak on the palate. The flavours are well integrated with the acidity and tannins in this wine. No change to the flavours after decanting, but the acidity is a little stronger.
Finish: Medium-plus lenth finishing with sweet balck fruit flavours, a little hot, and a little firmer, drying tannins. More tart fruit flavours on the finish after decanting.
A lighter-bodied Bordeaux blend with black fruit aromas and flavours. Can age 4-5 more years.
Rating: 
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The Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series NBO 2022 shows a deep garnet colour that is nearly opaque to the rim, with aromas of plum, black fruit, oak, cinnamon, and earthy notes, with nutmeg replacing cinnamon after decanting. The palate is dry and lighter-bodied with a soft, smooth texture, offering plum, black berry, char, and oak flavours supported by lower acidity and soft, drying tannins that are well integrated. It finishes medium-plus in length with sweet dark fruit, a touch of warmth, and firmer drying tannins, while decanting brings slightly brighter acidity and more tart fruit on the finish.
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series Reserve 7 2022 (BC $44.97)
Winemaker’s notes, “Our Reserve 7 was crafted from grapes sourced from two distinct vineyards in the South Okanagan. The blend begins with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the rocky soils of our own Blue Terrace Vineyard. The Cabernet Franc comes from Raju Vineyard near the border in Osoyoos, where soils of gravel, sand, clay, and ancient lakebed deposits lend complexity. A 10–21 day fermentation with daily remontage ensured balanced fruit extraction. After 12 months of aging, the wine was removed from barrel for the final blend, then immediately returned to barrel for an additional 12 months. A combination of 62% French (10% new) and 38% American oak barriques was used to enhance depth and complexity.“
Appearance: A clear, deep garnet colour.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of black fruit, black cherries, oaky woodiness, and a hint of char. The same or slightly lighter aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, round, soft, thicker mouthfeel. Deep flavours of ripe black fruit, black cherries, plus touches of oak and vanilla. Light, velvety soft tannins and medium acidity. Same body and flavours after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with ripe black fruit flavours and stronger, medium intensity tannins. No change to the finish after decanting.
An elegant Bordeaux blend with ripe black fruit flavours and a soft mouthfeel. No need to decant. This wine as well can age at least another 4-5 years.
Rating: The Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series Reserve 7 2022 shows a deep garnet colour with aromas of black fruit, black cherry, oaky woodiness, and a hint of char. The palate is dry and medium-plus in body with a smooth, round, and softly textured mouthfeel, offering ripe black fruit, black cherry, oak, and touches of vanilla supported by light velvety tannins and medium acidity. It finishes medium-plus in length with ripe dark fruit flavours and firmer medium-intensity tannins.
As a side note, isn’t bottle size interesting? These two bottles contain the same volume of wine, but the Reserve 7 looks like it should hold more wine as it is taller and the shoulder of the bottle is higher than the shoulder of the NBO.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available for purchase online from the Township 7 website:
The Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series Reserve 7 2022 is also available at Everything Wine stores.
