The 2012 Thirty Bench Riesling, harvested from old vines, has captivating aromas of wet stone minerality and typical Riesling notes of zest, gooseberry and oilyness (to stop short of using ‘petrol’ as a descriptor). It is a light to medium bodied, off-dry/medium-dry, fruity wine; with refreshing acidity and medium, finish. Enjoy with food or sip on its own; drink now and for the next few years (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NICE, 88-89 pts – recommended for its quality (and value if bought at the winery, since they are sold for $16.10 when 6 are bought). Brought by a friend who attended ‘Graze the Bench’ http://grapeselections.com/graze-the-bench/ (prices may have been only during the event) Tasted in Jun/14.

See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:

http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections

or here @

http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy

Ontario makes really good Riesling, and, allowing for terroir and vintage distinctions, this basic though undeniably refreshing and food-friendly Thirty Bench seems very much like an archetypal example, ticking off all the boxes it should. It has a nose of petrol, lemon-lime, minerals, and subtle gooseberry, but that's the austere crust that envelops a juicy core of pear and apple, and it's that mix of orchard and citrus fruit along with other characteristic Riesling elements, an impressive balancing act, that makes this so appealing, if not terribly intriguing beyond the basics.