Napa and Sonoma Wine Tasting: Benziger (4.25)

http://www.benziger.com/

Open 10:00am-5:00pm

Appt required? No

Last barlinwine.com visit: 2012 (April 15, 2012 Itinerary)

Directions

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Tasting:

After a lengthy hiatus, I made my way back to Benziger recently. It was my first trip to the winery since probably 2005, and while I fondly remembered the wine (the Benziger Tribute is consistently excellent) I’d forgotten what a beautiful setting the winery sits within.

Visiting Benziger reminds me of a grade school trip to one of those touristy “historic towns”, where people dress in traditional garb, the buildings are preserved inside and out just as they were in the 1800s, and ancient equipment sits on display for young minds to ponder over. There’s no traditional garb at Benziger, but there are plenty of buildings that look like they were built in the late 19th or early 20th century and quite a few relics scattered on display that apparently were left on the property when it was purchased. Benziger also does a riding tour where guests are pulled around the property by a large red farm tractor, and so its occasional passing as you stroll through the grounds adds to the “historic town amusement park” feel.

One building that remains modern, at least on inside, is the tasting room. As Benziger has continued to grow in popularity, the room has continued to expand, and now offers the original LONG tasting bar that can accommodate around 10 tasting stations, two small back rooms that used to be the only place you could taste their reserve wines (these are now available in the regular room also), and a new addition that added six more tasting pods in a more modern setting.

Not aware of the change in availability of the reserve wines throughout the room, I made a beeline to the “Estate Room” and began a tasting of Benziger’s Signaterra and premium wines with our friendly host for the afternoon, Skip. Skip started us with 2 whites, the 2010 Paradiso de Maria Sauvignon Blanc and the 2009 Signaterra “West Rows” Chardonnay. Both wines were just okay for me, although the Sauvignon Blanc actually made my mouth pucker from its tartness – not something I think they were looking for. But I wasn’t worried – we were here for the reds.

Skip didn’t make us wait any longer. We started red wine with two Pinot Noirs: the 2008 San Remo Vineyard Pinot Noir (off menu) and the 2009 Bella Luna Vineyard Pinot Noir. Both were solid wines. Next came what I remembered as Benziger’s “Sonoma Mountain Red”, which they have since rebranded “Oonapais”. We tried the 2006 version of this Bordeaux blend, and while I remembered it being a close second favorite to the Tribute, I wasn’t as impressed on this trip.

Our next wine was possibly my favorite: the 2007 Signaterra Three Blocks Bordeaux blend. Primarily Cabernet, this was an excellent wine and I think underpriced at $50. We moved on to the 2007 Obsidian Point estate blend, a solid wine but one that suffered from following the excellent Three Blocks. We finished with what we came for: the 2007 Tribute. The Tribute has always been good when I’ve had it in the past, and the excellent 2007 vintage was no exception.

We thought we were finished, but it was later in the day and Skip was having a good time. He pulled out another bottle, which turned out to be the 2008 Obsidian Point, another solid version of that wine. Then he asked us, “Do you guys like port?” Of course we do! A splash of Benziger’s Zinfandel port capped off our tasting.

Or did it? As we were wrapping up, another tasting room employee handed a bottle to Skip that made his eyes turn into saucers. “Who opened this?!?” he said with a grin. Whoever it was, they were likely in for a tongue-lashing according to Skip, but we were the beneficiary. Our last wine tried was the 2009 de Coelo Pinot Noir. Skip had a “winegasm” trying it – it’s his favorite wine at Benziger – and while it was a solid Pinot, I didn’t find it quite so amazing, and certainly not at the $90ish price point (it was sold out and not available to purchase, and so price for the next vintage wasn’t yet set). Nevertheless, it was fun to try and a nice way to cap off our trip.

I ordered wine and wasn’t charged the $20 tasting fee, but I think that it’s rare they charge unless you don’t buy anything. There are plenty of good wines to choose from at Benziger. Combining that with a great atmosphere and interesting grounds and you should be able to find something to entertain anyone at this recommended stop.