Okanagan Trip, Part XI, I LOVE BREAD MORE THAN OPRAH!!!!!!

Imagine our excitement to be greeted by this guy, Wally ("The Greeter")

But our excitement quickly turned to disappointment when we get in the door and smell....nothing. No bread. Turns out we were visiting too early in the season for their incredible artisan bread.

Well as long as we are here, might as well taste the wine!

Platinum Bench 2016 Pinot Gris ($19.90)

Very Alsatian-style, with aromas of pear and honeysuckle on the fresh, vibrant nose. Flavors of citrus and white grapefruit with a tinge of pear lurking.

Platinum Bench 2015 Mur-Fi's White ($24.90)

75% Chardonnay/25% Viognier

Light aromatics. Unctous, almost oily palate features citrus dominating, particularly lime zest, with notes of pineapple and peach. Named for the owners, Murray and Fiona.

Platinum Bench 2016 Rosé ($23.90)

A blend of Syrah and Gamay Noir

Herbaceous notes dominate the nose, fried green tomatoes and a little strawberry as well. The palate is ripe and juicy, with flavors of strawberry and pink grapefruit, with just a hint of spice on the finish.

Platinum Bench 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.00)

Arresting aromas of blackberry, black cherry and cassis. Blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate and black pepper on the palate. Tannins are sharp and intense and the flavors have not totally come together yet - they probably have released this too early - but it shows potential. I'll be interested to report on how this opens up after a few years in the cellar, as we bought one.

Platinum Bench 2015 Merlot ($29.00)

Little to no fruit to be found here. Funky mushroom, earth and tobacco on the nose, with just a hint of black fruit on the palate. Finishes really short. This was a disappointment. Passable, at best.

Platinum Bench 2015 Meritage ($39.90)

The lady helping us out couldn't tell us the exact blend here, something along the lines of 45% Cabernet, 45% Merlot, with some Petit Verdot and Malbec.

Notes of vanilla, tobacco and earth, with fruity aromas of black plum and blackberry hiding in the background. Blackberry, cigar box, caramel and chocolate on the palate. Decent finish but this is another one that seems like it might have more to give down the road.


That is it for our visit here, a winery who's motto should be "COME FOR THE BREAD! STAY FOR THE WINE, AS LONG AS YOU ARE ALREADY HERE!!!".

Seriously, if you haven't been here and sampled their artisan bread, it is really amazing.

Next up: A real short report on Vin Amité...short not because of a lack of quality, but because it was our second visit here this year and we've already reported on most of the wines.

AND.....we will interrupt this Okanagan blog post to report on everything we drank (and there was some SERIOUS wine) last weekend in Disneyland!!