Hidden Bench Terroir Caché 2019

The Terroir Caché is made every vintage at Hidden Bench as a Bordeaux-varietal red blend that is the little sister wine for the top La Brunante made only in vintages the estate feels makes the cut. It’s a blend of all three vineyards – Rosomel, Locust Lane and Felseck Vineyards – consisting of 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 16% Malbec. It’s aged in 100% French oak (31% new) and the rest in older barrels for 20 months. It has an attractive nose of dark berries, brambly raspberries, dark cherries, plums, anise/licorice, leathery notes, dark chocolate, and fine oak spice accents. It’s generous and smooth on the palate with a heady broth of red and dark berries, anise, cedar, rich spices and a juicy, lifted finish. Score – 93. (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, April 3, 2023)