Description
Winemaker Notes
In the fall of 2000 winery owner and viticulturist Jim Regusci purchased 20 tons of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from a vineyard that he planted and manages for a close friend. He brought the grapes to his winery and had them crushed and isolated from the rest of his own Regusci Estate grown grapes.
Not having a specific plan for the grapes, he asked his winemaker Charles Hendricks to make the wine and age it separately. Because the particular vineyard did not have a name, one of his cellar hands chose to label the barrels “Twenty Bench”. The name was chosen to signify the 20 tons of fruit from the gentle rising bench land vineyard from which they were picked.
The following year Jim was approached by two of his close friends, James Harder and Jim Gill, who together also happen to oversee the sales and marketing of Jim’s own Regusci Estate wines. The two were interested in developing their own wine with one simple mission in mind – to make an exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon that could retail for around $20 per bottle and “over deliver” on quality for the price.
Regusci took them into his cellar and drew a barrel sample of the wine for the two to try. After one small taste both knew that this was the Cabernet Sauvignon they had in mind. When the three men also noticed the name “Twenty Bench” written in chalk on the side of the barrels they also discovered a great name for this special wine. A partnership was struck on the spot.
After just three vintages, the highly allocated “Twenty Bench” has already earned a stellar reputation among some of the countries top restaurants and wine retailers for offering an exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon at a very affordable price.
