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It’s an exciting time for California Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. To say we are in the golden age of quality winemaking in Sonoma County, would not be a stretch of the imagination by any means. 2019 represents what many consider to be a benchmark vintage for the region, with wines showing a balance of power, elegance, and the ability to go the distance in the cellar.
One of the finest examples of small production winemaking in the heart of the Russian River Valley is Benovia Winery. Located just east of the famed Russian River, Benovia produces some of the region’s most expressive Pinot Noir & Chardonnay – grown on 72 acres of estate vineyards, owned and sustainably-farmed by the Benovia team.
Co-Owner & Winemaker Mike Sullivan is a fifth-generation Californian who grew up in the Russian River Valley, working and thriving in the wine industry since age 18, when he began his career in Dick Arrowood’s cellar at Chateau St. Jean. Sullivan comes from a family of growers who own and farm the Four Brothers Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain and spent his summers there while pursuing his enology degree at Fresno State. Shortly after graduating, he served as assistant winemaker to the legendary Helen Turley at Landmark Vineyards, then at Chappellet.
Mary Dewane & Joe Anderson, Proprietors | Mike Sullivan, Co-Owner & Winemaker
Today, Mike, along with Proprietors Mary Dewane and Joe Anderson, is responsible for Benovia’s entire production, from the estate vineyards through the winemaking and into the glass. Working in collaboration with Benovia’s vineyard manager Chris Kangas, Sullivan and his team farm 72 acres, which have been designed and planted to express his vision of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Sullivan does not follow a standard recipe for each wine, but instead really listens, and most importantly, understands, what is needed to bring everything together.
The 58-acre Martaella Estate Vineyard is Benovia’s home property where you will find their winemaking facility and hospitality center. The vineyard itself is planted to 42 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the heart of the Russian River Valley in an area known as the Laguna de Santa Rosa. Martaella sits atop a knoll that is populated by wild turkeys, jackrabbits, and hawks. Mount Saint Helena is visible to the east and the climate is influenced primarily by the regular intrusion of cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean a few miles to the west.
The combined volcanic and marine sedimentary soils and temperate climate here make for generous, approachable Pinot Noirs with aromatics of blackberries and baking spices. Chardonnays are incredibly alluring, with notes of orange blossom and nectarine. The European-style high-density planting helps achieve smaller yields from each vine, creating more intense fruit that will be vibrant and expressive.
Today’s Mayacama Wine Offer highlights the 2019 vintage as seen through the lens of the Martaella Vineyard and Benovia Winemaker Mike Sullivan.
Chardonnay, Benovia, Martaella Vineyard, Russian River Valley 2019 – “We are very excited to release the second vintage of this single vineyard Chardonnay from our winery estate vineyard, named in honor of both Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane’s mothers. We have planted four heritage clones of Chardonnay to express the precision and intensity of the varietal. The grapes are harvested by hand at night before being whole cluster pressed. After settling overnight, the juice fermented in French oak barrels with indigenous yeast. The wine was aged for 13 months before bottling.” – MS
Pinot Noir, Benovia, Martaella Vineyard, Russian River Valley 2019 – “This is now the third release of this spectacular single-vineyard Pinot Noir from our winery estate vineyard, named in honor of Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane’s mothers. Only Heirloom Pinot Noir clones were chosen for this intense but delicate Pinot Noir. The grapes, harvested at night, were rigorously hand sorted prior to partial destemming and then berry selected before open top fermentation. With ideal fruit and stem maturity, we decided for the second year to ferment several clones with ~30% whole cluster for this vintage.” – MS
In addition to offering these small production wines (both are sub-500 case production), we are including a complimentary Tour/Tasting at Benovia for two guests to any member that purchases 6 or more bottles.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to if you have any questions and thank you for your continued support.
Cheers!
Carey Vanderborg, Wine Director
Chardonnay, Benovia, Martaella Vineyard, RRV 2019 -- $60/btl
Pinot Noir, Benovia, Martaella Vineyard, RRV 2019 -- $70/btl
Click here for more information about the wines.
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