We opened a bottle of Benton Lane 2009 First Class and we were very pleased. I have always enjoyed wines from Benton Lane and it is a go to stop when visitors are about, but beyond that, I think they are doing a great job of managing the vineyards in a sustainable and earth-friendly way and the wines show it.
This wine was good when released, rich with cola, mocha, and blackberry but now it has had a bi of time to all the elements to rest and mature. It took about 45 minutes for it to open and then the fun began. Dark red with a ruby glow. The smell was almost too much to put in to words: dark raw cocao and coffee, notes of rose at the top and anis in the back of the nose. So rich and aromatic, and changing. Berry and soft spices coming in as it airated.
The first sip was very different from the smell: soft blackberry and leather, slight oak and that mocha taste coming up to meet the back of the tongue.
We had it with an assortment of veggies and hard cheese and it was perfect.
Try some soon as it will not be around for long.
This wine was good when released, rich with cola, mocha, and blackberry but now it has had a bi of time to all the elements to rest and mature. It took about 45 minutes for it to open and then the fun began. Dark red with a ruby glow. The smell was almost too much to put in to words: dark raw cocao and coffee, notes of rose at the top and anis in the back of the nose. So rich and aromatic, and changing. Berry and soft spices coming in as it airated.
The first sip was very different from the smell: soft blackberry and leather, slight oak and that mocha taste coming up to meet the back of the tongue.
We had it with an assortment of veggies and hard cheese and it was perfect.
Try some soon as it will not be around for long.
