Parker Reviews the 2007 Wines

93 Points | Benovia 2007 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

Benovia's medium to full-bodied 2007 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, which actually comes from the Charles Vineyard (a vineyard owned by Lee Martinelli, Jr.), exhibits a light green hue to its straw color, lots of pineapple, honeyed citrus, poached pear, sweet apple, and brioche characteristics. The barrel treatment is obviously subtle, and the wine is impressively textured as well as rich. Kudos to winemaker Mike Sullivan, who honed his craft at Hartford Court before moving to Benovia. This is an impressive group of wines from this up-and-coming estate.

92 Points | Benovia 2007 La Pommeraie Chardonnay

The 2007 Chardonnay La Pommeraie comes from a Martinelli vineyard in Russian River. Honeyed orange, nectarine, and lemon blossom notes as well as a hint of caramel are accompanied by a full-bodied wine displaying additional honeysuckle flavors in the mouth. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity and freshness, this beautiful, exciting, unfined and unfiltered white should drink well for 5-6 years.

91 Points | Benovia 2007 Bella Una® Pinot Noir

From two vineyard sources in the Russian River Valley, the 2007 Pinot Noir Bella Una exhibits a darker, blacker fruit character than the other Pinots as well as full-bodied power, and lots of forest floor, blackberry, and black currant notes. Refreshing acidity, silky tannin, outstanding purity and length, and a full-bodied, opulent mouthfeel suggest this wine should evolve for a decade or more.

90 Points | Benovia 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

From a half dozen or so vineyards, the dark ruby-hued 2007 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast displays an extroverted character filled with a big, sweet kiss of roasted herbs, raspberries, black cherries, and underbrush. Lush, round, and complex with silky tannins and beautiful balance as well as texture, this beauty can be enjoyed now and over the next 4-5 years.

89+ Points | Benovia 2007 Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir

The tightest, most restrained effort is the 2007 Pinot Noir Cohn Vineyard, whose yields were less than a half ton of fruit per acre. This medium ruby-colored wine reveals notes of herbs, cherries, incense, forest floor, and currants. It does not possesses the intensity and texture of its siblings, but I suspect those may emerge with another 6-12 months of bottle age.

90 Points | Benovia Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir

The dark ruby-colored 2007 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard reveals the crisp, tart acids that seem to come from this cool climate area along with more blueberry, raspberry, and wild strawberry fruit notes. Tightly-knit, but promising with medium to full body, an attractive Asian spice character, and a subtle hint of oak, it will benefit from another year of bottle age, and last for 7-10 years.

- By Robert Parker, Jr • The Wine Advocate #187, February 27, 2010