http://www.bennettlane.comRSS feeds for BennettLaneWinery60http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/114/Wine-Spectator-Insider.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=114http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=114&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/114/Wine-Spectator-Insider.aspxBennett Lane Maximus Red Napa Valley 2007 92 Points - $35 - 1543 cases made Enticingly complex, rich and layered, with firm, fresh, vibrant clackberry, wild berry, cedar and spice notes, with a texture that's both supple and firm.  Full-bodied, with a long, lingering finish.  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec and Cabernet Franc.  Drink now through 2020. - J.L. Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve 2007 91 Points - $95 - 230 cases made Intense and full-bodied, with loamy earth, dried berry, sage and roasted herb flavors, this is marked by firm, mouthcoating tannins that cloak the cherry and berry flavors.  A rich, extracted style.  Best from 2012 through 2022. - J.L.    blaneWed, 01 Jun 2011 03:16:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:114http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/113/Wine-Enthusiast-June-Buying-Guide.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=113http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=113&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/113/Wine-Enthusiast-June-Buying-Guide.aspx94 Points - Bennett Lane 2008 Lynch Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga); $125 - A very rich, dry Cabernet, marked by dusty tannins, and with flavors of blackberries, dark chocolate, sweet herbs and green olives.  Very fine in the mouth, clearly a wine with pedigree, but it needs time.  Hold until 2014.  Cellar Selection - SHblaneThu, 21 Apr 2011 02:20:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:113http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/112/Wine-Enthusiast.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=112http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=112&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/112/Wine-Enthusiast.aspx2007 Bennett Lane Los Carneros Reserve Chardonnay 91 Points  - "A beautiful Chardonnay, creamy, dry and elegant.  There's a tangy minerality underlying the rich tropical fruit, apple, pear and buttered toast flavors.  This is an elegant wine from the Carneros region." - S.HblaneFri, 01 Apr 2011 00:16:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:112http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/111/Wine-Enthusiast-May-Buying-Guide.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=111http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=111&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/111/Wine-Enthusiast-May-Buying-Guide.aspx94 Points - Bennett Lane 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley); $55.  Very ripe, dense and concentrated.  Although it's totally dry, the wine shows massive, sweet flavors of blackberry and cherry fruit.  Impresses for sheer power, as well as the length of finish.  Cellar this youthful beauty for 6-7 years and see what it does.  Cellar Selection. - S.H. 94 Points - Bennett Lane 2007 Maximus Red Feasting Wine (Napa Valley); $35.  Tastes dramatic and youthfully vital, with fat, fleshy flavors of blackberries, cassis, mocha and sweet cedar, as well as a mineral tang that grounds them.  Very upscale and refined, a pure product of superior terroir and winemaking. - S.H.blaneWed, 23 Mar 2011 02:38:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:111http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/109/San-Francisco-Chronicle.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=109http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=109&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/109/San-Francisco-Chronicle.aspxCalifornia Cab for $20 and under: The Chronicle Recommends By: Lynne Char Bennett California produces its fair share of inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon.  You can almost throw a rock and hit drinkable California-labeled bottlings priced at $12 or less, though it takes some looking to find ones with more definitive Cabernet character. We upped our price point several bucks and handily found ones to recommend among 36 we tasted, including one from Napa Valley. ....... 2008 Turn 4 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($20): Produced by Bennett Lane Winery, this acknowledges the four Napa Valley subappellations that sourced its fruit.  Turn 4 also refers to the last - and important - turn on NASCAR tracks.  Sweet black cherry, cassis, dark chocolate and vanilla- demerara sugar aromas; moderately rich, structured and a style that many people will enjoy.  blaneSun, 13 Mar 2011 02:56:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:109http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/110/San-Jose-Mercury-News.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=110http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=110&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/110/San-Jose-Mercury-News.aspxOn Wine: Napa Cabernets By: Laurie Daniel The 2007 vintage for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was considered by many to be among the best ever.  It garnered a 99 on the Wine Spectator's 100 point scale.  When a vintage gets that kind of glowing press, the vintages on either side of it tend to fall a bit by the wayside: 2006 and 2008 are considered good, but mixed bags. The recent Premiere Napa Valley trade tasting and auction provided opportunities to taste all three vintages.  In addition to a blind tasting of the three vintages from a dozen wineries, held by the Napa Valley Vintners, smaller Napa appellations held numerous open houses and tastings during the two days before the auction. After scores of wines, I'm not climbing on the 2007 vintage bandwagon.  If you love bog, ripe, bold Napa Valley cab, its probably the vintage for you.  I prefer wines that are a little lighter on their feet. Which brings me to the 2008 vintage.  Spring frost greatly reduced the size of the crop, but the weather was very good during harvest, and that small cop got quite ripe.  I was surprised to find that several tasty 2008s at the Napa Valley Vintners' tasting weighed in at 15 percent alcohol or more.  But the wines have good acidity, and you can get away with alot of ripeness if there's sufficient acidity to give the wine liveliness and keep it from tasting heavy......... Tasting Notes .......The 2008 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon ($55) is plenty ripe, but also displays an intriguing aroma of violets. (Bennett Lane also produces the 2008 Turn 4 Cabernet Sauvignon, $20, a well-priced cab with bright black cherry, a hint of dill and firm tannins.).....blaneThu, 10 Mar 2011 03:09:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:110http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/108/Napamancom.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=108http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=108&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/108/Napamancom.aspx 2011 Napa Valley Premiere Auction - Highest proceeds ever, $2,366,000! .....The day before the auction, Napa Valley Vintners and the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the CIA, typically host a wine-tasting event, allowing auction guests to sample Napa VAlley wines from recent vintages.  This gives participants a way to benchmark different vintages - and learn how the wines are aging. ...How surprised was I to learn that the 2006 wine, which I rated 95 Points, the 2007 wine, which I rated 96 Points, and the phenomenal 2008 wine, which I rated 97 Points, were all Bennett Lane Cabernets, crafted by winemaker Grant Hermann. Way to go, Grant!  These were my favorite wines of the weekend, and the good news for readers is that they don't cost like top-tier wines; you don't have to have deep pockets like Mr. Nakagawa to enjoy them.blaneSun, 27 Feb 2011 00:37:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:108http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/107/2011-San-Francisco-Chronicle-Wine-Competition.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=107http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=107&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/107/2011-San-Francisco-Chronicle-Wine-Competition.aspxBennett Lane Winery Scores from 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - $95 - GOLD MEDAL 2007 Maximus Red Feasting Wine - $35 - yet to be released - GOLD MEDAL 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - $55 - SILVER MEDAL 2008 Turn 4 Cabernet Sauvignon - $19.99 - SOLD OUT - SILVER MEDAL Timeless - $28 - BRONZE MEDAL blaneMon, 10 Jan 2011 02:53:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:107http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/106/The-Wine-Advocate-Robert-Parker.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=106http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=106&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/106/The-Wine-Advocate-Robert-Parker.aspx 2007 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - 92 Points Robert Parker The estate's top wine, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, offers pure black currant and fruit intermixed with cedar, licorice and earth notes.  Full bodied and juicy with a succulent texture, ripe tannin and a long finish, this impressively endowed beauty should drink well for 10-15 years. 2008 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Turn 4 - 89 Points Robert Parker Wow!  Look what I found!  Bennett Lane's 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Turn 4 is a sensational bargain in Napa Valley Cabernet, the type of wine that consumers should be buying by the case.  It possesses a dense dark ruby/purple color along with fleshy black currant flavors, surprising complexity and richness, no hard edges and a lush mouthfeel.  This beauty should offer delicious drinking for 4-5 years, possibly longer. 2007 Bennett Lane Maximus Red Feasting Wine - 90 Points Robert Parker The 2007 Maximus Red Feasting Wine exhibits a dark ruby/purple color along with notions of cedar, licorice, black currants, chocolate and coffee.  This medium to full-bodied 2007 should drink nicely for a decade or more.  blaneSat, 25 Dec 2010 00:18:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:106http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/102/Chicago-Tribune.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=102http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=102&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/102/Chicago-Tribune.aspxFreedom To Blend - Winemakers Aim for a Sense of Place in Nonvarietal Wines by Bill Daley There is a kindred spirit to these wines that goes beyond their Napa Valley address.  Cabernet Sauvignon is dominant in most, with varying percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  All evolve markedly in the glass with time, offering a changing roster of flavors and aromas.  Where they differed was on price, ranging from $25 to $140. 2006 Bennett Lane Maximus This "red feasting wine" is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Syrah and 5% Malbec.  Colored a dark brick red, with a spicy nose of cinnamon and black pepper, this wine is plush with rich blackberry flavors.  Three Stars.  $35 View ArticleblaneWed, 21 Apr 2010 02:35:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:102http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/97/marthastewartcom.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=97http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=97&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/97/marthastewartcom.aspxSandy & Monty Make Wine Move over Lucy and Ethel!  Yesterday, “Everyday Food” co-host Sandy Gluck and I took a shot at blending our own wine at Calistoga’s Bennett Lane Winery.   Under the guidance of  Stefanie Longton, retail sales and wine club manager, we were able to create, bottle and cork our own special blends of wine.  Check out the album below to see our adventures in wine blending and Bennett Lane’s beautiful vineyard. View Complete Entry and Photos Listen to the show and live interviews by clicking the play buttons below.           March 11th, 2010               March 12th, 2010    blaneMon, 15 Mar 2010 21:41:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:97http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/104/The-Public-Eye.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=104http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=104&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/104/The-Public-Eye.aspx90.5 WICN New England - Al Vuona interviews Bennett Lane Winery owner Randy Lynch, discussing the beginnings of the winery. Randy and Lisa Lynch came to wine through their travels in Italy, where the fruit of the vine is typically a complement to a meal-not the centerpiece.  When their growing passion for fine food and wine led them to plant acreage in Napa Valley, Randy and Lisa decided to create a red wine that would easily find a place at the dinner table.  Maximus, named after the wine-loving, 2nd century Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus, became their initial bottling.  That was the beginning of Bennett Lane Winery. Listen HereblaneThu, 18 Feb 2010 04:07:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:104http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/100/Washington-Examiner.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=100http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=100&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/100/Washington-Examiner.aspx  The Vine Guy: Wines to warm up with By: Scott Greenberg Baby, it's cold outside. Winter has come to Washington with a vengeance. Even the snowmen my kids made last week want to come inside and warm up. I usually look forward to the cold weather each year so I can break out big red wines, but this winter, I think I'll have to dig just a little deeper and find some really big red wines -- the thermal underwear equivalent -- to keep me company through this frigid frosting. What is it about cold nights that beg for the company of big red wines? They just seem to go together. Like Simon and Garfunkel (am I dating myself?), they tend to make each other a little better for pairing. Personally, cold nights give me an excuse to hunker down and enjoy leisurely dinners with friends featuring hearty fare (my wife's cassoulet is my favorite), warm crusty bread and long, stimulating conversations energized by bottles of red wine. I am convinced most of the world's problems could be solved if people took time to sit down and share a glass -- or two -- of red wine and a plate of beef bourguignon. However, finding the right big red takes a little bit of thought. After all -- and no offense to the beauty and grace of pinot noir -- most warm-your-toes reds need to have a little "chewiness" to them. Some of the essential qualities that I look for in winter reds include depth, structure and power. Big, full-bodied black fruit -- such as blackberry, dark plum and cassis -- usually supplies the power. Tannins provide structure while acidity keeps the wine balanced. Most "winter reds" will benefit from an hour or two in a decanter in order to soften the tannins and bring out the fruit. One other trick, if you don't have the time or patience to wait for the wine to soften, is to pair it with soft cheeses -- such as brie or camembert -- and bread. The milk fat in the cheese will soften the tannins and give provide a rounder mouthfeel to the wine. Here are several big red wines that will warm your palate without melting your wallet. Retail prices are approximate. 2006 Bennett Lane "Maximus" Napa Valley, CA ($35) Each year, the winemaker at Bennett Lane creates a special blend from red varietals selected from vineyards located throughout Napa Valley.  This full-bodied blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah is an electric blanket for the palate.  Aromas of dark plum, black cherry and hints of vanilla lead to weighty flavors of blackberry, cherry and cocoa on the palate.  Warm waves of earthy cedar and pumpkin spices filter in on lengthy finish.  blaneThu, 14 Jan 2010 04:41:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:100http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/103/The-Tasting-Panel.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=103http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=103&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/103/The-Tasting-Panel.aspxBlue Reviews - by Anthony Dias Blue In each issue, Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dias Blue selects a wide range of the best wines and spirits from among the more than 500 he samples over the course of a month.  The reviews are subjective editorial evaluations, made without regard to advertising, and products are scored on a 100-point scale. 90 Points - Bennett Lane 2007 Turn 4 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($20) Smooth and lush with plum and sweet oak; rich texture, density, depth and spice with a long finish. View ArticleblaneFri, 01 Jan 2010 04:00:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:103http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/99/Chicago-Tribune.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=99http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=99&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/99/Chicago-Tribune.aspxIt's time for a little vino indulgence Bill Daley   Given the sour economy, one could be forgiven for buying only bargain wine, boxed wines even, for holiday meals and celebrations. But let's say there's a last-minute miracle: Your Scrooge of a boss turns wildly generous; Auntie Mame turns up in the guise of your free-spending Uncle Joe; you win the lottery. Look, it can happen. So with a pocket full of cash ready to burn, head to your nearest wine store and treat yourself to a splurge. The downturn in the economy and a sagging market for superpricey wines may mean you'll get a bargain as well. Consider these six premium California reds recommended by our tasting panel. Whether the bottle is meant for Christmas present or Christmas future, these Napa Valley wines combine a fruit-forward friendliness with the tannic structure needed for aging. All are cabernet sauvignon or Bordeaux-style blends. Go big and bold!   2006 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve: This cab has a bright, perfumy nose, a velvety texture and a big, deep flavor of berries with notes of chocolate, black pepper and spice. Serve with beef Burgundy, flank steak roulade, roast goose. ✭✭✭ $95      blaneTue, 22 Dec 2009 04:33:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:99http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/98/winereviewonlinecom.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=98http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=98&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/98/winereviewonlinecom.aspxBennett Lane, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ($55): The Bennett Lane Cabs have always impressed, and that success has pushed the prices upward in recent vintages. That said, the basic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at $55 is anything but wishful thinking. This powerful Cab delivers intense aromas of cassis and blackberry, is richly layered, and supported by fine tannins. The oak is well judged, and this wine finishes with great persistence. It's the complete package, well worth the price if you are up for an indulgence.   94 Points Robert WhitleyblaneTue, 08 Dec 2009 04:27:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:98http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/96/Wine-Spectator.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=96http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=96&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/96/Wine-Spectator.aspx19 Exceptional California Syrahs A sampling of wines that displays the grpaes versatility in the Golden State James Laube Posted Spetmeber 14, 2009 Move over Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.  Syrah is making a case for itself as the most versatile grape in California. It can star just about anywhere it's grown.  Witness this week's sampling, a selection of notworthy wines from 2006 and 2007 vintages, extending north from Rockpile in Sonoma and south to Sta. Rita Hills. No surprise that Lewis, Bennett Lane, Laiger Meredith and Failla Syrahs, from Napa Valley, are exceptional.  But within that sampling from Napa are wines from Mount Veeder (Laiger Meredith), Carernos (Lewis Hudson Vineyard) and Yountville (Rocca).......... BENNETT LANE Syrah Napa Valley 2006 Score 92 - $45 A rich, powerful, tight and focused expression of Syrah, with full-bodied berry, dried currant, pepper, spice, herb and sage, all woven together in a tight thread, ending with a complex aftertaste.  Best from 2010 through 2016.  250 cases made. - J.L. View ArticleblaneMon, 14 Sep 2009 05:06:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:96http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/94/Gourmet-Magazine.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=94http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=94&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/94/Gourmet-Magazine.aspxWine Advice Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah come together ....in Bennett Lane's Napa Valley Maximus '05.  A smoothly powerful wine with gorgeous color and flavor and a long finish. - Gerald Asher View ArticleblaneThu, 27 Aug 2009 23:49:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:94http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/92/Wine-Spectator.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=92http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=92&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/92/Wine-Spectator.aspxBennett Lane Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa Valley Reserve 92 Points Tight, focussed and well-structured, with a firm band of cedar-and-mineral-laced currant, graphite, herbs and cherry.  Gains complexity and depth before ending with ripe, chewy tannins.  Best from 2010 - 2017. - JL View ArticleblaneThu, 20 Aug 2009 06:10:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:92http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/90/Flint-Journal.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=90http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=90&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/90/Flint-Journal.aspx Guys: Have you tried a great wine   by Ron Krueger   I remember the commercial. It was aired during the 2007 Super Bowl. Couples are at a wine and cheese party when all the guys sneak into the kitchen. There, they gather around a giant fake cheese wheel. One of them lifts the top to reveal longnecks on ice.   High fives all around.   I didn't give it much thought at the time. But it came back to me recently when I was invited to have lunch at the home of a friend. Eventually there were eight of us, all guys. I had brought a bottle of dry rose (say rose-EH). I opened it, poured myself a glass and joined the initial cluster of three. As the other fellows arrived, the host pointed them to the kitchen table with my bottle of wine plus a liter of red he had set out. "And there's beer in the fridge. Help yourself."   One by one, each guy grabbed an MGD. I never before had felt self-conscious about the contents of my glass.   A 2008 Gallup Poll reported that, among women who drink, 43 percent said their favorite adult beverage is wine while 28 percent said they prefer beer. Among men, 58 percent said they go first for beer. Only 17 percent said wine is their first choice.   That leaves 25 percent preferring another libation. I'm guessing this segment goes for spirits - scotch, whisky, vodka, gin and the like.   I had never thought drinking wine was less than manly. If you already don't have hair on your chest, it will take root if you regularly drink a California cabernet sauvignon with 15.5 percent alcohol by volume and enough tannin to blister the paint on your Harley.   A recent Associated Press article pointed out that some wine marketers feel the need to pitch their products to men.   One is Bennett Lake Winery in Calistoga, Calif. Owner Randy Lynch sponsors a car on NASCAR's western circuit and is a former race driver himself. Gentlemen, get your corkscrews.   Randall Grahm, founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz, Calif., has spent his whole life over the top. One small example was his Big House Red and White, with the name referring to Soledad prison near the winery. The label bears a caricature of the prison, barbed wire and all. The wine sold so well that Grahm launched a separate Big House line with such names as The Slammer, The Lineup and The Birdman.   Modesto, Calif., winemaker Cal Dennison tries to finesse us guys. The outdoorsman and horseman stamps the corks of his Redwood Creek wines with GPS coordinates for various hiking spots. Sure, I want to see more men drinking wine. If seeing the name of a winery on a car that goes 200 miles an hour helps, great.   But the self-assured man won't be swayed one way or another by labels and aggressive branding. He will do some research and look for a wine that represents its category, even if the label bears flowers.   Excuse me while I go pour myself a goblet of Marilyn Merlot.          blaneFri, 07 Aug 2009 04:16:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:90http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/83/Now-and-Zin.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=83http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=83&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/83/Now-and-Zin.aspxTasting Room Notes: Bennett Lane Winery Posted by Randy Fuller On the way from Napa Valley to Geyserville via Highway 128, there's a driveway I'm glad I drove. That was the one which led to Calistoga's Bennett Lane Winery. A pretty arbor in front of a smallish building provides a fitting entry into the tasting room. Small inside, too, there isn't a lot of room available at the tasting bar. Find a way to elbow in, though. Some very good wine awaits you. White Maximus 2007 - A floral nose - honeysuckle - is enhanced with citrus aromas. The palate is clean and crisp. Good minerals, good acidity. Reserve Chardonnay 2007 - This was billed as a new release, but I think the tasting sheet was printed late last year. The blurb promises Fuji apple, baked pear and toasted hazelnut, but it was all tropical to my nose. A little unexpected, but quite pleasant. This is a full-figure Chardonnay, heavily oaked with the buttery, creamy notes you would expect. Maximus 2005 - Plenty of oak in this big red. I get lots of cedar, vanilla and spices both in the nose and on the tongue. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 11% Syrah, the fruit is lush and lasts a good long while. It was my favorite. Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - This 100% Cabernet is a blend of Bennett Lane's estate Cab and that sourced from other Napa Valley growers. A big cherry nose greets you and the taste is driven by flavors of dark plums and leather. Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - The Cab is augmented by 4% Petit Verdot. It's a very rich wine that, to me, is chocolatey enough to be dessert. But no, they have that covered even better. Dessert Wine - This beauty is a non-vintage port-style wine of which less than a hundred cases were produced. I don't know the percentages, but it's made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Carignane. Beautiful, rich flavors abound. Figs, cherries and some spicy notes put me in mind of Christmas, even though I had been off the hot, dusty trail for only a few minutes. blaneSat, 04 Jul 2009 02:25:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:83http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/82/Idaho-Statesman.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=82http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=82&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/82/Idaho-Statesman.aspxWine Advice: Red blends are perfect for summer grilling Winemakers are creating unique reds that are easy-drinking but bold enough for grilled meats. By GARRY SCHOLZ  The 4th of July is right around the corner, and that means backyard grilling will be in full swing. The perfect red wine this summer for grilled meat is a non-traditional red blend. American winemakers, in particular, have been free-thinking in their approach to crafting unusual reds. Syrah and Zinfandel seem to be two of the grapes used more effectively to create unique reds, although many other varieties also are used. Syrah adds color, body, and fruity richness when combined with other red grapes such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. For its part, Zinfandel adds character by giving the finished wine more balance; a richer, softer taste; and a little pepperiness. And that's just what you want during summer: a red wine that's easy to drink but big enough to handle grilled foods and tangy, spicy sauces. Bennett Lane 2005 Maximus Red Feasting Wine, Napa Valley ($32) is another Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah blend. It has real weight and structure, with lots of fruit and hints of baking spices. It's made to stand up to the heartiest of grilled steaks. Serve it when you have ribeye or New York strip.blaneWed, 24 Jun 2009 22:48:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:82http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/89/North-Bay-Bohemian.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=89http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=89&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/89/North-Bay-Bohemian.aspxBennett Lane Winery by James Knight The old trope "beer-drinking NASCAR fans vs. Chardonnay-sipping highbrows" may have lost the lead it once enjoyed, but hasn't entirely run out of gas. Ours is a nation that reads politics into the provenance of condiments, and supposedly holds sacrosanct the union of cheap beer and high-performance motor sports. Yet a 2007 Nielson survey found that although NASCAR fans ranked last in household wine purchases, their spending was up 22 percent. Increasingly, the question may not be blue or red, but red or white. When NASCAR comes to wine country, wine clearly has the home advantage. My preference in racing is for both cold beer and kiosks conveniently at hand where I can place a wager on a horse with a funny name. So when I set out to investigate the state of the grape at the Bennett Lane 200 (at the invitation of the winery's media relations partners), I brought along my father. While he does not closely follow NASCAR--and is a wine convert who has actually owned three French-built automobiles throughout the years--Dad is a longtime car-racing enthusiast who used to bring me to Sears Point (as the track was called when places were named for history and geography) decades ago when little but wind-swept, scrubby hills surrounded the track. Things have changed--there's even a Pinot Noir vineyard growing amid all the buildings, tents and permanent bleachers set into terraces on the popular turns. From a vantage point on Turn 2 we leaned into the fence as Bennett Lane's own car, emblazoned with grapes, spun around the rubber-slicked curve. Founded in 2003 by ad exec Randy Lynch, the winery sponsors a race annually and hosts the wine garden where its wines are available by the glass. An infamous Roman emperor who appreciated his vino as much as a good chariot race inspired the 2007 White Maximus ($28). Mostly Sauvignon Blanc with Chardonnay and Muscat, the wet honeysuckle aromas and tropical, papaya flavors were fine with a cool day or a hot day in the sun--both of which this Carneros location offered. A plume of heavy toast roared out of the 2005 Maximus ($35) "red feasting wine," and sweet black cherry and brambleberry zipped past moderate tannin, leaving me ready for the grill: this is your ribs, burger, roast head of boar wine. Dad certainly enjoyed it. After the first 20 laps, he had drained the glass; the next time I looked, he grasped an already half empty second. Meanwhile, I also fell under the spell of the caterwauling stock cars as they passed time and again. Bennett Lane's #2 put in a good effort, but finished toward the rear of the pack with a crumpled hood, its grapes slightly crushed. As we trekked back to the car, I saw crumpled cans of beer littered about, and in the parking lot was a minor obstacle course, none of them wine bottles. Could be that those Chardonnay sippers were just more predictably concerned about the environment . . . or, in the transformation of "beer drinkers to wine drinkers one race at a time," as Lynch aspires to, there are a few laps to go.  blaneWed, 24 Jun 2009 04:07:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:89http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/84/Santa-Barbara-New-Press.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=84http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=84&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/84/Santa-Barbara-New-Press.aspx   BENNETT LANE: IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE By Dennis Schaefer     There are hundreds of wineries to visit in Napa Valley but only one has a NASCAR race car in the corner of the barrel aging room. Bennett Lane Winery, just north of Calistoga, was the first winery to sponsor and own a NASCAR racing team, one that won the 2007 NASCAR Grand National Division West Series Championship. And, by the way, Bennett Lane also makes wine that belongs in the winner's circle. Also, Bennett Lane has kept their wine prices reasonable for such expensive grape-growing real estate. In the recent "Savvy Shopper" issue of Wine Spectator, Bennett Lane was called "a reliable source for high quality and good prices." The 2007 white Maximus ($28), subtitled "white feasting wine," is a proprietary blend, primarily of sauvignon blanc, with a bit of chardonnay and muscat in the mix. The aromas are enticing, with orange blossom, honeysuckle and grapefruit, smelling like the best breakfast juice you could conjure up. The flavors are ripe with fruits of white peach, nectarine, orange citrus, pear and red grapefruit, backed up by prickly acidity that just gives it more oomph on the mid palate and a lengthy finish.   The 2005 Maximus red wine ($35) is about two-thirds cabernet, one-quarter merlot with the balance syrah. Again, the aromatics are a strong point, with dark plum, black cherry, blackberry, cocoa powder and vanilla. The well-extracted flavors spread out on the palate like a buffet, including sweet and ripe black cherry, licorice, blackberry and plum with subtle layers of mint, cinnamon, nutmeg and cedar. As jam-packed as that sounds, the wine is nevertheless supple and refined with an incredible balance of fruit, spice and acidity. A tasty best-buy and worth twice the price.   This being Napa Valley, Bennett Lane most certainly makes a cabernet. The 2005 [Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon]version ($55) has darker, deeper and reserved aromatics (than Maximus) with cherry, candied violets and aged barrel notes of clove and cedar. On the palate, the flavors are more sustained with dark plum, cassis, black cherry and cedar. It's savory in the same way the juicy pink center of a medium-rare steak is.  A myriad of deeper flavor components, not all of which are evident on first pass, reveal themselves with time in the glass.  Great length and persistence is obvious in this cab and you can drink it now or age it for a few years.   The winery also wants to go toe-to-toe with other high-end Napa cabs with their 2005 cabernet reserve ($95). It has the darkest of all cassis, licorice, cherry and plum aromatics you can imagine; the flavors are focused with plenty of dark fruits, including a rich layering of raspberry, cocoa and chocolate and hints of licorice, green herb and vanilla. It's the absolute finest cabernet they can make at any price and it was my best of show of all the wines. Put this one in the cellar for up to 10 years.   The 2006 Los Carneros reserve chardonnay ($45) just jumps right out of the glass with billowing clouds of pineapple, honey, coconut, cinnamon and clove. The real focus of flavors are on fresh pineapple that's vibrant in nature, along with baked apples and toasted hazelnuts in an important but supporting role. The mouthfeel is juicy as well as rich and the finish is crisp and lengthy. View Article SCHAEFER ON WINE blaneThu, 23 Apr 2009 02:37:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:84http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/87/The-Star-Ledger.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=87http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=87&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/87/The-Star-Ledger.aspx  Supplies & Demand Get the right stuff at the right price By TJ Foderaro   Taste tip: A delicious example of a Meritage blend with a twist is the 2005 Bennett Lane Maximus “Red Feasting Wine” ($35). It’s a cabernet-merlot blend with a touch of syrah thrown in for extra oomph.  The bouquet is a thing of beauty, with concentrated aromas of jamlike fruit and hints of coffee and earth.   View Article  blaneWed, 01 Apr 2009 03:08:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:87http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4/The-New-York-Times.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=4http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=4&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4/The-New-York-Times.aspxA Gift for a Sweetheart: Chocolate, Wine and Thou ... Pour on the chocolate for Valentine's Day. This sauce from Bennett Lane Winery in Calistoga, Calif., is made with Maximus, a cabernet sauvignon-merlot-syrah blend. It works over cake, profiteroles, berries or ice cream, and it can go into a chocolate soufflé. The sweetening in the sauce, which offers winy flavors, is restrained. It is $18 for 375 milliliters from bennettlane.com. Packaged with a bottle of the bold, fruity 2005 Maximus, it's $50.blaneWed, 04 Feb 2009 16:33:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5/Wine-Spectator-January-31-2009.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=5http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=5&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5/Wine-Spectator-January-31-2009.aspxWorld Wide Search for Values California - Recommended Values Bennett Lane - At this remarkable source for high quality and good prices, winemaker Rob Hunter oversees a linedup led by Maximus Red and Maximus White. The former blends Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot; the latter is a mix of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Muscat. View ArticleblaneSat, 31 Jan 2009 16:36:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/88/InsideNapaValleycom.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=88http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=88&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/88/InsideNapaValleycom.aspxBennett Lane Winery in the race to win over NASCAR fans   By LOUISA HUFSTADER Inside Napa Valley The Napa Valley’s northernmost winery, Bennett Lane, is the picture of tranquility in its quiet vineyard setting off Highway 128 north of Tubbs Lane. But glance around the tasting room, and you might hear in your head the sound of a powerful engine: Randy Lynch, who co-owns Bennett Lane with his wife Lisa, is a former racing driver who, in 2004, became the first vintner to sponsor a Nextel Cup car in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Among the wine awards and accoutrements in the small but welcoming room, a photo of the car looms large on the wall — “Bennett Lane Winery” emblazoned across its hood. “Wine is something I came into later in life, but racing is something I’ve been involved with since I was a teenager,” said Lynch, who wants to convert more beer-swilling race fans into educated wine consumers. Already, according to a Nielsen Sports survey reported in Time magazine last year, wine consumption among NASCAR fans rose 22 percent in 2006 compared with the previous year. Most recently, race team owner-turned-vintner Richard Childress is reversing Lynch’s approach with the checkered-flag-themed Childress Classic, a cab-merlot blend aimed at first-time wine drinkers. But at Bennett Lane, it’s the wine that comes first. A typical $10 tasting includes four very different examples of winemaker Rob Hunter’s craft, beginning with the fragrant white Maximus Feasting Wine ($28) —“Our breakfast of champions,” as hospitality manager Stefanie Longton said with a smile one recent afternoon. Made with 86 percent sauvignon blanc, 12 percent chardonnay and 2 percent Muscat and cold-fermented in stainless steel tanks, the 2007 white Maximus would indeed make an excellent brunch or picnic wine. Its alcohol-by-volume percentage is given as 14.5; Bennett Lane produced 7,000 cases. Hunter, formerly Sterling Vineyards’ director of winemaking, also makes a Carneros reserve chardonnay for Bennett Lane ($45, ABV 14.9 percent). The 100 percent varietal is aged in French oak, and just 175 cases were produced in 2005. Bennett Lane’s reds include a 2005 Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon ($55, ABV 14.5 percent) made with 5 percent merlot. The grapes came from Bennett Lane’s estate Lynch Family Vineyard, the Barlow Vineyard in Calistoga, the Oakview Vineyard in Oakville and the Lewelling and Taplin vineyards in St. Helena; the wine was aged in 20 percent new French oak barrels. Hunter and his team made 2000 cases of the Napa Valley cab, but just 800 of the Bennett Lane Reserve cab ($95, ABV 15.5 percent), with fruit sourced from the Lynch, Taplin and Lewelling vineyards. Aged in 30 percent new French oak, the blend is 93 percent cabernet sauvignon, 6.5 percent merlot and .5 percent petit verdot. The 2005 red Maximus ($35, ABV 14.5 percent) is an appealing blend of 64 percent cabernet, 25 percent merlot and 11 percent syrah, aged in both new and previously-filled French and American oak. The cab grapes for the 2005 Maximus came from the Deming Vineyard in Calistoga, the Kletter Vineyard in St. Helena and the Trio-B Vineyard in Yountville; the merlot is from Paoletti in Calistoga and O’Shaughnessy in Oakville and the syrah is from Oak Knoll Ranch in Yountville. But the next year’s blend could be completely different; unlike the white Maximus, the red changes with the vintage. Hunter isn’t joking when he says that to build his blends, he begins with an Excel spreadsheet listing the 40 or so lots he can use. “The permutations and combinations are endless,” he said. Visiting groups of six or more people can create their own versions of red Maximus in what the winery is calling its Custom Blend Experience. For $175 per person — Upvalley limo transportation included — the group will sample wines in the tasting room with Hunter or another staff member, then move to the barrel room for a hands-on blending session. After a sensory-evaluation tour of flavor components including oak dust, fresh raspberries and dried cherries, each guest receives a glass each of cabernet, merlot and syrah, with an empty glass for blending. Magnums stand ready should the glasses run low, while the table setting also includes a pipette, a measured flask and a pencil for noting the proportions of each person’s favored blend. Like a little bacon-rind aroma? Add more syrah. Too much tannin from the cab? Back it off with a little merlot. Once each participant has arrived at a favored formula and noted it down, Hunter, Longton or another Bennett Lane staffer will blend a 750-ml bottle to those exact specifications. Every guest then gets to cork, foil and label her own bottle — and for good measure, a gold sticker announces the name of the custom blender. After that, it’s back to the table for a cheese tasting and — why not?— a little more wine before the Bennett Lane limo whisks guests back to their lodgings. The Bennett Lane Winery Custom Blend Experience is available by reservation only; the tasting room and picnic area are open daily from 10:30 to 5:30.blaneThu, 22 Jan 2009 05:22:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:88http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/7/Wine-Spectator-October-20-2008.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=7http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=7&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/7/Wine-Spectator-October-20-2008.aspxBennett Lane 2006 Los Carneros Reserve Chardonnay 93 Points Tasting Highlights: California Chardonnay BENNETT LANE Chardonnay Los Carneros Reserve 2006 Score: 93 | $45 Intense, concentrated and full-bodied flowers of floral honeysuckle, pear and fig are shaded by cedary oak, returning to the primary flavors on the long, bubblegum-scented finish. Drink now through 2011. 600 cases made. -J.L. View Article  blaneMon, 20 Oct 2008 15:42:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:7http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6/Press-Democrat-Santa-Rosa-CA.aspx#Comments1http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=6http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6/Press-Democrat-Santa-Rosa-CA.aspxWine of the Week: Sauvignon Blanc - October 29, 2008   Bennett Lane 2007 White Maximus   Four Stars - An appealing wine, crisp, vibrant and complex. Aromas and flavors of grapefruit, lemon, lime and white peach. Citrusy finish View ArticleblaneMon, 20 Oct 2008 15:40:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8/Biggerthanyourheadnet-September-30-2008.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=8http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=8&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8/Biggerthanyourheadnet-September-30-2008.aspxBennett Lane 2007 White Maximus   by Fredric Koeppel Eight White Wines to Ease You into Autumn Last week, I wrote about the Bennett Lane Maximus Red Feasting Wine 2005, Napa Valley. Now it's the turn of the Bennett Lane Maximus White Feasting Wine 2007, Napa Valley. The blend is 86 percent sauvignon blanc, 12 percent chardonnay and 2 percent muscat, the latter smidgeon contributing, no doubt, to an irresistible and slightly astringent aroma of some chaste little white mountainside flower. This is surrounded by crisp apple, lush and lively tangerine, lemon curd and lemon balm. Pretty heady stuff, all right. This is an elegantly proportioned wine, though, nicely layered with limestone and pure citrus, scintillating acid and a soft burr of oak that permeates the structure the way that ink spreads across the lines of an etching plate. Spiced grapefruit gives the bracing finish a tang. Excellent. About $28.blaneTue, 30 Sep 2008 15:46:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:8http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9/Biggerthanyourheadnet-September-23-2008.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=9http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9/Biggerthanyourheadnet-September-23-2008.aspxNapa & Sonoma: 12 Cabernets from 2005 Bennett Lane 2005 Maximus It's a bold move to name your cabernet blend Maximus and then give it the nickname "Feasting Wine;" shades of banquets and revelry! The Bennett Lane Maximus "Red Feasting Wine" 2005, Napa Valley, however, is densely structured enough that I would hesitate to open a bottle for tonight's banquet; feasting in 2010 through 2015 or ‘16 would be more like it. The blend is 64 percent cabernet sauvignon and 25 percent merlot, and you would be forgiven for thinking that we're on our way to something modeled on St. Estephe or St. Julien, except that the other 11 percent is syrah, a grape that the Bordelaise don't even dream about. Maximus ‘05 opens with distinct aromas of cedar, tobacco and walnut shell that unfold around elements of intense and concentrated black currant, black cherry and plum. The flavors are similar, but deep, rich and spicy, quite earthy and minerally. The texture is dense and chewy with slightly gritty tannins that help make this a solid and substantial wine rather than a supple or vibrant one. Very Good+ with a nod toward Excellent potential in three or four years. About $35.blaneTue, 23 Sep 2008 15:49:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10/Brentwood-Magazine-September-2008.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=10http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10/Brentwood-Magazine-September-2008.aspxCreating A Satisfying Wine Cellar by Jenny Peters Bennett Lane Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Crafted from grapes sourced in both Calistoga, where Bennett Lane Winery makes its home, as well as further south in St. Helena, this Napa Valley Cab is a big wine, with a nose of cherry and cocoa and a textures mouthfeel that highlights tastes of raspberry and chocolate. It's a wine that is already drinking well, especially if paired with steak or game; or put it in the bottom of your cellar for a few years, when it will soften up even more and be a delight when you finally uncork it. View ArticleblaneMon, 22 Sep 2008 15:50:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/St-Helena-Star.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=13http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=13&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/St-Helena-Star.aspxUp and Down the Wine Roads with George Starke September 4, 2008 Bennett Lane Winery in Calistoga has launched a "Fruit and Flavors" wine-education program which includes a vineyard tour, a sensory evaluation seminar, a hands-on blending session and a gourmet cheese-tasting experience. The cost is $200 per person. Call 942-6684 for info.blaneThu, 04 Sep 2008 16:44:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:13http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/12/Napa-Life.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=12http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=12&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/12/Napa-Life.aspxAn Insider's Look at Napa Valley by Paul Franson September 1, 2008 Bennett Lane launches educational program Bennett Lane Winery has introduced a new program for visitors interested in learning the craft of blending wines at its tasting room in Calistoga. Winemaker Rob Hunter or a member of the winery‘s staff will lead groups of six or more through the Varietals, Fruit & Flavor program, which features a vineyard tour and a sensory evaluation seminar focused on Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah followed by a custom blending experience and gourmet cheese tasting. The price is $200 and includes transportation for groups from hotels and resorts in Calistoga and St. Helena in the winery‘s stretch limousine. For reservations, call 942-6684.blaneMon, 01 Sep 2008 15:58:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:12http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11/WineCountryUSAblogspotcom.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=11http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11/WineCountryUSAblogspotcom.aspxI Blend My Own Wine in the Napa Valley August 2008 by Matthew Debord Unlike seemingly every other wine journalist on planet Earth, I have never had any desire to become a winemaker. I like the people and the stories and the product and I'm happy to leave the men and women who have chosen this demanding trade to the very very very very hard work of tending vines and producing bottled poetry. Still, while on my recent jaunt to Napa, I did get the chance to blend my own wine, from primo Napa juice, and so I went for it. Who knows if the results are any good. But I thought it tasted OK. We were at Bennett Lane Winery, which produces a great wine called Maximus: it's an interesting blend of mainly Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah. And so for our little experiment, guided by staffer Stefanie Longton and winemaker Rob Hunter (who told a cool story comparing picking grapes at proper ripeness to doing likewise with blackberries, a story that reminded me of Galway Kinnell's famous poem), we were given some Cab, Merlot, Syrah, plus a graduated cylinder and a pipette (Flashback! High school chemistry!). Then we were told to go to town! I adopted a cowardly strategy: figuring that if I had great Cab and great Merlot, I decided not to mess with the Syrah, thereby controlling for two variables rather than three. Besides, I don't much like Cali Syrahs from outside Paso Robles (that said, Bennett Lane's is pretty much rockin' on its own, and you can see in the final blend of Maximus why it makes sense). I went from mostly Cab with a splash of Merlot (too crispy and tannic) to a 70-30 blend (structured, but not much fun to drink now) to 60-40, which I decided was the winner because it was the most fun. Unfortunately, the Bennett Lane stock car was not on premise, so I didn't get my chance to at least sit in it (I was kinda hoping they might let me start it up). For the record, Bennett Lane's Hunter has developed an interesting attitude toward new oak--he doesn't like to use it 100 percent, preferring instead to mix some used oak barrels from previous vintages. I think he's on to something, definitely fulfilling BL's goal of producing a solid sub-$100 primo red that consumers can enjoy right away and on a more consistent basis. It's plush, generous, and elegant, with plenty of layers of ripe, yummy fruit and the structure to prevent it from seeming flat or flabby. BL also produced one of the best Cali Ports Dessert Wines (they can't call it Port, so they use the DW designation and tack on "After Feasting Wine") I've ever had. So there, naysayers of Cali! The Valley really can do it all. And guess what? Longton went to USC--as in Gamecocks! So we got to trade barbs over lunch, as I went to ultra-rival Clemson. Go Tigers!blaneThu, 07 Aug 2008 15:56:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/15/Five-fun-things-to-do-in-Napa.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=15http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=15&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/15/Five-fun-things-to-do-in-Napa.aspxFive Fun Things to do in Napa By Liza Zimmerman Yes, we have all spent time in Napa. A lot of the wineries produce boring, overpriced wines. And the traffic on 29 is a killer during summer weekends. It's best to get away during the week, but if you can't these deals are still good on the weekends: View Article  blaneThu, 31 Jul 2008 17:04:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:15http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/17/Robert-Whitley-Wine-Talk-with-Robert-Whitley.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=17http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/17/Robert-Whitley-Wine-Talk-with-Robert-Whitley.aspxBennett Lane 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points Bennett Lane is a relatively recent addition to the landscape around the village of Calistoga. Its strongest suit is pure, bold, mouth-filling Napa Valley cabernet, and there is no finer example of that than the 2005 vintage. It delivers a gorgeous nose of ripe cassis, with a hint of cedar and vanillin. The texture is slightly grippy in the most positive sense, and there is tremendous fruit lift through the mid-palate. This is a darkly fruited cabernet of uncommon depth, with exceptional palate length and persistence of flavor. And it's supple enough to enjoy tonight, though this is one Napa cabernet I wouldn't hesitate to lay down for several years.blaneTue, 29 Jul 2008 17:06:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/16/Southern-Living-August-2008.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=16http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=16&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/16/Southern-Living-August-2008.aspxCalifornia Wine Country: A Trip to Remember Summer's probably my favorite time to visit Napa and Sonoma -- the nights are cool, everything's lush and green, the roads and wineries are not nearly as crowded as they are in the fall, and, compared to the South, there's almost no perceptible humidity (which I'll take all day long). Join me as I look back on a recent trip (which was out of this world!)...... Next stop: A "wine blending experience" at Bennett Lane Winery (3340 Highway 128, Calistoga, Napa; 707-942-6684) Scott's Picks: Maximus, White Maximus, Los Carneros Reserve Chardonnay The staff-lead Custom Wine Blending Experience is a splurge (at $175 a person for a party of 6 to 8), but it's definitely worth it...at least once...and with a few good friends. (Call to check on pricing for parties of 1 to 4, or more than 8.) The Experience also includes a wine and cheese pairing, and a limo ride to and from your hotel (within the Calistoga or St. Helena areas) -- I reckon when you add it all up it's actually a pretty solid value. If you're interested, be sure to call ahead to schedule a time. The winery is open to the public daily from 10am to 5:30pm. Guests are also welcome to use the winery's picnic area. Don't miss the dark chocolate and Maximus pairings every Saturday -- call to check on times. For more information, call 707-942-6684. Bennett Lane owner Randy Lynch is a man on a mission to introduce wine to beer-loving NASCAR fans. Like his long-time pal, Richard Childress (who produces outstanding wines at his winery in North Carolina), Randy is heavily involved in racing as well as his growing winery. In fact, Randy and his wife, Lisa, are the first California winery to own a NASCAR team. The couple's also partnering with Infineon Raceway in Sonoma to serve Maximus -- their rich, full-bodied red -- by the glass in the track's new entertainment zone. View Article blaneMon, 28 Jul 2008 17:06:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:16http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/19/Forth-Worth-Star-Telegram-July-16-2008.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=19http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=19&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/19/Forth-Worth-Star-Telegram-July-16-2008.aspxWines of the World: Bennett Lane NApa Valley Maxim   By Renie and Sterling Steves Unforgettable....Bennett Lane Maximus Red Feasting Wine 2005 ($35) wine lasts in the mouth and in the memory. It's juicy and pleasantly viscous. No shy notes here, it's big. Wine carries to the dark, dense side of your palate. It sits there and waits for food. Holds cherry jam, cassis jelly and red raspberry flavors in the mouth along with cocoa and hints of vanilla. Love this wine. It's velvety and gracious. Oh, by the way, Maximus Red is 64 percent cabernet sauvignon, 25 percent merlot and 11 percent syrah...an interesting mix of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. Maximus White Feasting Wine 2007 ($28) is mainly sauvignon blanc with a little chardonnay and a whiff of muscat. Since it was fermented and aged in stainless steel, the wine displays incredible notes of mandarin orange, key lime and white peaches in the aroma. If the wine isn't icy cold, it displays the roundness of ripe pear and ruby red grapefruit in taste. The label is elegant. In homage to Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus, a notorious wine lover and gourmand, there is an ancient coin on the label issued in 385 AD during his reign. Located on Highway 128 approximately two miles north of Calistoga, Calif., Bennett Lane Winery is open to the public daily.  blaneWed, 16 Jul 2008 17:09:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:19http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/20/The-Wine-Skinny.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=20http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=20&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/20/The-Wine-Skinny.aspx2007 Bennett Lane White Maximus Weekend Wine for July 14, 2008 -- Summer Refreshers As hot and steamy July unfolds before us, we're reaching for thirst-quenching wines for dunking in a bucket of ice on the back patio. Here are a few whites (and a rosé!) at a range of price points that we've particularly enjoyed lately:Bennett Lane 2007 Maximus White Napa Valley ($28). Mostly Sauvignon Blanc, with Chardonnay and Muscat, this white blend offers lovely honeysuckle and citrus aromas and flavors, with focused mandarin orange and grapefruit notes balanced by richer pear and crisp nectarine. Folds together on a juicy, long finish. Ready to drink nowblaneMon, 14 Jul 2008 17:10:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:20http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/18/Watch-CBS-Magazine.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=18http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=18&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/18/Watch-CBS-Magazine.aspxWine Guide: By the Stars Bennett Lane 2005 Maximus Wine afficionado Shelley Levitt shares her clebrity-inspired take on characterizing your wine rack. Mark Harmon Leroy Jethro Gibbs - NCIS Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah: A blend is the perfect answer for the advernture seeker. Together, these three grapes offer a racy mix of cherry, berry, currant and plums with hints of vanilla, cocoa, clove and cedar. Pair with: Lamb, grilled steak and vegetables, blue cheese, paella Try: Bennett Lane Maximus RedblaneSat, 28 Jun 2008 17:09:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:18http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/21/ESPN-June-21-2008.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=21http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/21/ESPN-June-21-2008.aspxNASCAR Fans' Palates Turning More Sophisticated, A By David Newton SONOMA, Calif. -- At the foot of the scenic mountains surrounding Infineon Raceway, on the black pavement behind the main grandstand between souvenir haulers and barbecue stands, is a lattice-covered wine garden surrounded by large oak barrels. Less than a hundred yards away, a large group of people gathered for wine, cheese and shrimp cocktails in Victory Lane. Even though a driver with Budweiser on the hood of his car won the pole for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at this 1.99-mile road course, wine connoisseurs now have a place in NASCAR. All of a sudden a word such as "palate" is as understood as spring rubbers and wedges. "I didn't even know what [a palate] was 20 years ago," team owner Richard Childress said with a laugh. "I used to load a bunch of used parts on a pallet." Childress is a big part of NASCAR's move from beer and hot dogs to a wine-and-cheese crowd. He opened the Childress Vineyard in the fall of 2004 in the Yadkin Valley less than 15 minutes from his Welcome, N.C., race shop. A year later, four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon got into the wine business by introducing a 2004 Carneros Chardonnay featuring his name and Gordon Collection logo on the bottle. Soon after that, according to a Nielsen Co. survey, wine consumption among the average NASCAR fan jumped 22 percent -- from spending $66.80 in 2005 to $81.40 in 2006. While that didn't put NASCAR at the top of the list of wine drinkers in sports -- LPGA fans spent on average $124.90 in 2006 and tennis fans $111.90 -- it did draw the sport closer to the NBA ($86.20), Major League Baseball ($89) and the NFL ($94.30). And the increase was by far greater than in any other sport, prompting many wine companies to expand their research on the dynamics of purchasing and consumption by motorsports fans. In 2005, Texas Motor Speedway became the first track to offer wine from vendors. Earlier this year, the Performance Racing Network launched its own wine show, "The Wine Crush." This wine fad is so out of control that there was a Saturday morning news conference to discuss wine. So has the sport born of bootleggers turned sophisticated? "It kind of outgrew the Southern fan base," said NASCAR West series owner Randy Lynch, who started Bennett Lane Winery a year before Childress got into the business. "The clearest demographic information on the San Francisco market that NASCAR puts out says the No. 1 identifying factor is the NASCAR fan in the Bay Area is affluent. "It's becoming more of an upscale crowd." It definitely is in Sonoma. There will be more wine-tasting tours in the three days before the checkered flag falls than there have been car tests leading to this race on the winding pavement surrounded by vineyards. "The sport that grew up on moonshine and beer sponsorship, now all of a sudden we have wineries sponsoring race cars," said Doug Rice, the president of PRN. "It's part of an evolution the sport is going through." Rice, once an avid beer drinker, never imagined five years ago his radio network would air a wine show. "Not in the most remote corners of my mind did I think that was a possibility," he said. "Part of it is the whole trend in wine. It's perceived to be better for you and has some health benefits. And NASCAR may be getting a little different crowd." That certainly has been the case at the Speedway Club at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. "Speedway Club in Charlotte used to be all beer," Rice said. "They don't even have beer taps anymore." Jeff Burton, who is second in points behind Kyle Busch, isn't surprised. "If you think about it … you walk down any grocery store and there's like whole aisles dedicated to it," he said. "When I was a kid you had some Mad Dog 20-20. You didn't have a whole aisle of wine. "It used to be stuffy people are wine people. Today, everybody drinks wine." Well, not everybody. "I'm a fan of the 26 car, to be honest," Mike Ford, the crew chief for Denny Hamlin, said in reference to the Crown Royal sponsor on Jamie McMurray's car. Hard liquor aside, Ford acknowledged the palate of race fans has moved toward wine. "It used to be a pretty hard-core Budweiser crowd," he said. "It's kind of branched out." Gordon, who grew up in nearby Vallejo, Calif., often envisioned becoming a vintner as his family drove through the Napa Valley and Sonoma County to water-ski at Lake Berryessa and race midgets in Calistoga. "I remember seeing the vineyards and thinking, 'This is so beautiful,'" he said. Beauty turned into reality after Gordon tasted a bottle of Batard-Montrachet while traveling in London. Soon he began talking about the oakiness of wines like he would the setup of his No. 24 car. Childress began drinking wine in the 1970s during trips to California to race. He finally turned 65 acres off Highway 64 into a vineyard and built a winery that looks as though it belongs in Italy with its beautiful stone masonry. This past year, his tasting room was ranked among the top 25 in America. But Childress admits Lynch knows more about making good wines than he and Gordon combined. "We had three of the top cabs [cabernets] in the country," Lynch said. "And we only make three red wines. Without tooting my horn too much, we're very proud of our wine." Lynch was the first to put grapes on a car three years ago, when road-course specialist P.J. Jones drove one of his cars at Sonoma. "That was the day Tony Stewart took out five cars, and one of them was ours," Lynch said. He shouldn't have been surprised. Stewart drinks Schlitz beer. "As we all know, beer is kind of on the downswing," Lynch said. "Anheuser Busch in the last two years has gone on a cost-cutting mission. Who knows what the future holds for beer?" The future for wine certainly looks bright in NASCAR. Fans are trading their beer koozies for wine coasters, opening up an area of marketing that is virtually untapped in NASCAR. For $50 you can have the Gordon Collection Merlot. For $255 you can get the gift set that includes a bottle of his Carneros Chardonnay in an autographed, hinged wooden case with the Gordon Collection logo and two Riedel Extreme Chardonnay stems with the logo. For $5.99 you can have a Gordon helmet wine bottle stopper. Or for $6.99 you can get Gordon's wine glass charms, featuring the No. 24 car or a checkered flag. "There are NASCAR fans out there that drink wine," Gordon said. "The thing is, we're not so thinking of promoting our wine with racing. I want it in fine restaurants. I want it to be something completely nonassociated with racing." But there is the potential for a pretty good rivalry. Gordon fans can tout their driver makes a better wine than Childress, and vice versa. "Richard makes a nice wine, but Napa Valley is where you should grow your grapes," Gordon said diplomatically. The business already has a point system like NASCAR. Anything with a 90 or better is consider excellent. Lynch has had 10 90-plus grades over the past three years. "The thing about asking somebody if somebody's wine is better than the other, everybody's palate is different," Childress said. Two-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson gives the wine edge to Childress over his car owner. "Man, I haven't had Gordon's wine. Is that wrong?" he said. "I've had his white but not his red. I've had Childress' red. Richard gave me a nice bottle of red when I won the Daytona 500, so I think he's ahead there." So much for beer wars. Pretty soon we'll have the Childress Winery challenging the Gordon Collection the way Miller challenges Budweiser. But while there are awards and prizes in the wine business, connoisseurs like Gordon and Childress haven't completely lost touch with their primary objective. "I've taken home a lot of trophies all over the world," said Childress, also an avid hunter. "What's the next championship I want to get? A Cup championship." Of course, he would fill it with wine. View ArticleblaneSat, 21 Jun 2008 17:10:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21