2023 Bachelder Les Villages Bench Pinot Noir | 92pts

An easy-going, ready to drink and approachable Pinot Noir with the structure and seriousness reminiscent of single-vineyard Bench Pinots. Mostly dark fruits like plum, hint of blueberry, blackberry and ripe crushed raspberry on the nose with violets and earthiness. The palate displays superb acidity with a nice mix of tension and roundness. The mid-palate has a good density, and the finish has a hint of saltiness and a great pulse of energy. I really love the price point of this wine. In my opinion, this is the most complete Villages wine of Bachelder's 2023 releases, and has everything I look for in a great Pinot Noir. (Carl Boucher, Nov 14, 2025). 

92pts Carl's Wine Club | 91pts Rick VanSickle

A word from Thomas: The Les Villages Pinot Noir is from the Niagara Escarpment regional appellation — we call it ‘The Bench’ — and it's a gorgeous, red-fruited, crunchy wine with cherries, raspberries, and even some super fresh small forest strawberry overtones. Although elegant, this wine is immense and lightly astringent and has a beautiful ageing potential. A great nose of durable red and black fruit shines, currently with cloves and spice behind. Lovely and rose-petaled, rich in the mouth, the striking acidity and the glycerine-silkiness surprises! The finish is long, with only slightly perceptible ripe tannins. Delicious and good right now, yet there is a huge potential for improvement for the next 5+ years! This wine still has much, so much, to give, to reveal! If you want to age a truly great Pinot Noir that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg — look no further! 

A word from Mary: Seductive raspberry and cherry tones.