Last Sunday we drove down to Beamsville for the latest Hidden Bench wine club release. We made a grave error and ate beforehand — there were grilled cheeses, lobster & shrimp rolls, duck spring rolls, and lamb chops. Harald chastised us for not coming hungry enough.

These were the wines released, in the order we sampled them:

• 2016 Natur Zero Dosage Traditional Method Sparkling
• 2019 Nuit Blanche
• 2018 Tête de Cuvée Chardonnay
• 2018 Felseck Chardonnay
• 2018 Locust Lane Pinot Noir
• 2018 Terroir Caché

All were as amazing as expected, but I finally got to taste the 2018 Felseck Chard that won Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards this June. Verdict: the hype is real.

.:.

Cover photo from the Hidden Bench site