http://www.bennettlane.comRSS feeds for BennettLaneWinery60http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/70/Weekly-Calistogan.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=70http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=70&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/70/Weekly-Calistogan.aspxBennett Lane racing team driver is tops By Jack Heeger Mike David, driver for Bennett Lane Winery's NASCAR West racing team, is currently in first place with 824 points and two wins in five starts, and has placed in the top five four times. He's more than 100 points ahead of his nearest rival. The next race will be June 2 at Colorado National Speedway, but the team comes closer to home June 23 with a race at Infineon raceway in Sonoma. Another car is expected to join the team. Lisa Lynch, wife of Bennett Lane owner Randy Lynch, will sponsor her own car, the Maximus (which just happens to be the name of a wine produced by Bennett Lane). It will be driven by P.J. Jones, son of famed Indy driver Parnelli Jones. Both are scheduled to compete at Infineon.novaThu, 14 Jun 2007 23:17:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:70http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/74/San-Diego-International-Wine-Competition.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=74http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=74&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/74/San-Diego-International-Wine-Competition.aspxBennett Lane Winery struck gold at this year's 24th Annual San Diego International Wine Competition with the 2004 Maximus taking home a gold medal and a sweepstakes award! Our 2005 Primus Reserve Chardonnay also was awarded a silver medal in the competition.novaTue, 12 Jun 2007 23:32:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:74http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/72/WineFlaircom.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=72http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=72&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/72/WineFlaircom.aspxWine-Flair.com Wine Touring by David Gaier A Top Winery at the Top of the Valley The end of the line for me in Napa is typically Bennett Lane in Calistoga, north of, actually. Owners Randy and Lisa Lynch purchased the property in 2003, choosing Napa because of their love of Cabernet. Randy is a NASCAR guy and the winery sponsors a team, so if you're into that you can get your fill - what with a car in the barrel room, racing photos everywhere and merchandise for sale. I'm an open-wheel SCCA man myself and I think the NASCAR stuff is a bit overdone in any event. But having said that, I really like this place, the people, and the wines, and you will, too. I came for the Maximus my first time - a scrumptious blend of Cab, Merlot, and yes, Syrah (20%), which is a rather unusual mix in this part of the country. As I walked into the small tasting room I was greeted by Keith Hargrove, the national sales manager, who's really the Ambassador of Bennett Lane to the wine-drinking world. Keith, who often mans the tasting room when he's in town, spent the better part of two hours walking me through their selections, topped off by a barrel tasting of some unreleased wines. Together we tasted and compared the 2002 and 2004 vintages of Maximus, which were noticeably different although they have mostly the same proportions of varieties. And while their Chardonnays do little for me (I am a real hard sell on California Chards), the Bennett Lane White Feasting Wines are outstanding, made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc but with a few percent Chard and couple percent Muscat as grace notes. For my money, Randy Lynch really scored when he brought Rob Hunter in as winemaker. Rob is a former Vice President and Director of Winemaking for Sterling Vineyards and before that was winemaker at Markham Vineyards, and Lyeth Winery. The wines really show not just care - every winemaker in Napa "cares", after all - but a philosophy put to the taste. I walked out with a smile on my face and I've stayed in touch with Keith for the last couple years. I've also bought a 3 liter Maximus in an etched bottle, which lends a noble Roman character to my wine table. Ironically, though, Maximus was a Spaniard from a small town in Galicia...so shouldn't this wine be made from Mencia or Garnacha? novaTue, 12 Jun 2007 23:29:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:72http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/71/Gentry-Magazine.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=71http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=71&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/71/Gentry-Magazine.aspxLife Among the Vines Put a Cork In It "Gone are the days of ceramics and paint - it's time to create your own wine! Calistog'a Bennett Lane Winery has invited oenophiles near and far to play winemaker for a day.........It's a chance to test your palate, familiarize yourself with an up and coming vineyard, and ultimately, walk out with a bottle of wine that you will really, really like." View ArticlenovaTue, 12 Jun 2007 23:17:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:71http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/69/Gayotcom.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=69http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=69&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/69/Gayotcom.aspxTop 10 Wines for Father's Day 2005 Bennet Lane Primus Reserve ChardonnaynovaTue, 12 Jun 2007 23:15:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:69http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/64/Project-Foodie.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=64http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=64&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/64/Project-Foodie.aspxProject Foodie Maximus Lamb Burgers with Feta Cheese and Mint Today, Jim May from Bennett Lane Winery (Calistoga, CA) provides us with his recipe for "Maximus Lamb Burgers with Feta Cheese and Mint". As Jim says "this summertime recipe combines ground lamb with Mediterranean flavors and a surprising touch of timeless flavors. The rich flavor of the lamb is complemented by the tang of the feta cheese, the sweetness of the mint jelly and the woodsy, perfumy, exotic smell of oregano. This meal is easy to prepare ahead of time, quick to cook, and delicious served on crispy buns with fresh tomatoes, grilled rosemary steak fries and a bottle of Bennett Lane Maximus". Sounds great Jim - an easy and delicious summer meal for a wonderful dinner and an evening of relaxation… What could be better? Maximus Lamb Burgers with Feta Cheese and Mint Courtesy of Bennett Lane's Jim May Serves 4 1 ¼ lbs. ground lamb 4 T. Bennett Lane Maximus 2 T. mint jelly 2 T. shallot, minced 1 t. dried oregano 2 t. salt 2 t. black pepper ¼ lb. Feta cheese, crumbled Hamburger buns or Ciabatta bread cut into 4 inch pieces Put the ground lamb in a large bowl. In another small bowl, mix together the wine, jelly, shallot, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour wine mixture in bowl with the lamb. Fold in the cheese and gently mix together. Form by hand into 4 patties. Grill meat over hot coals for about 4-5 minutes per side for medium rare to medium. Serve on toasted burger buns of choice. Pair with Bennett Lane Maximus Red Feasting Wine. About Bennett Lane's 2004 Maximus However you like your lamb; either a roasted leg, grilled rack of lamb, chops, loin or in this recipes' case, an all in one lamb burger, the classic and best beverages to accompany it are a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah. So rather than having to choose one, why not have a wine that weaves all 3 varietals into one incredible food wine with rich fruit flavors, a complex mouth feel and a finish that complements the lamb and invites bite after bite. Such is the Bennett Lane Maximus Red Feasting Wine. It is Cabernet blended with Merlot and Syrah that pairs beautifully with most foods but shines with lamb, beef and game. About Bennett Lane Winery Follow Napa Valley's Route 29 north to Calistoga, and then keep going just 2 1/2 more miles. You'll arrive at the pinnacle of the Napa Valley - the northernmost wedge where the Vaca mountain range meets the Mayacamas range. Here you will also find Bennett Lane Winery, sitting snugly at the edge of its own well-maintained Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. Owners Randy and Lisa Lynch purchased the property only four years ago, but Bennett Lane is already making a splash in wine country with its lush textured Cabernet Sauvignon and a no-nonsense red wine varietal blend called Maximus, composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. All three of Bennett Lane's 2003 Napa Valley red wine releases have scored 90+ points from Wine Spectator and are listed as some of the Great California Cabernets in the magazine's annual Cabernet Issue. The 2003 Primus Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon leads the pack with a score of 93 Points, one of the top rated Napa Cabernets of the year in the publication. Bennett Lane Winery 3340 Highway 128 Calistoga, CA 94515 Project FoodienovaTue, 12 Jun 2007 23:05:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:64http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/66/Wine-Spectator-June-11-2007.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=66http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=66&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/66/Wine-Spectator-June-11-2007.aspxWine Spectator James Laube Unfined Notes From Friday's Barrel Tasting - June 11, 2007 The most pleasant surprise at Friday's barrel tasting: how well the 2005 Cabernets showed. The last time I tried a group of these wines they struck me as elegant, balanced and understated, the kind of vintage that slowly unfolds and reveals itself over time rather than being up front, showy and opulent. I think the same can be said of 2006. Both years came from cool, milder growing conditions. I tasted some 40 wines at Auction Napa Valley's barrel tasting and the 2005s (along with a few 2006s) impressed me with their elegance, balance, depth and complexity. A couple of readers I ran into asked me what I'm looking for in wines this young. For the sake of being succinct, the answer is purity of fruit flavor. I entered the barrel tasting as it started and before it got crowded and loud – two detriments to concentration. I focused on wines that were either new to me or wines I was less familiar with. As a side note to Friday's blog about barrel tasting, I would add that using benchmark wines – wines that you are familiar with and typically like -- as reference points is another. For example, a couple that I relied on were Shafer Hillside Select and Pride Mountain. My favorite 2005s included: Atlas Peak Claret (rich and structured), Blackbird Bordeaux Blend (elegant and stylish), Bennett Lane (plush and dark), Brookdale (smooth, rich and loamy), Frank Family Vineyards (dark, rich and complex) Ilsley Stags Leap District (super rich), Kuleto (a complex, structured blend of Cabernet and Cabernet Franc), Keenan Spring Mountain (tight and structured) Louis M. Martini Lot 1 (very elegant and refined, destined for a reserve bottling), O'Brien Estate Seduction (sharply focused), O'Shaughnessy Mount Veeder (tight and structured), Parallel (plush and extracted), Pride Spring Mountain (opulent), Ramian Estate Mount Veeder Chapter 5 (another tight one from Mount Veeder), Shafer Hillside Select (plush yet elegant), Silverado (elegant and complex) and Sonador Spring Mountain (rich and oaky). Ahnfeldt had the lone 2005 Merlot (complex and deep).novaSun, 10 Jun 2007 23:09:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:66http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/63/Luxistcom.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=63http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=63&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/63/Luxistcom.aspx2006 White Maximus June 9, 2007 If you are looking for a light summer white wine the recently released 2006 Bennett Lane Maximus Feasting White wine is a nice choice. It is a blend of 87% Sauvignon Blanc, 11% Chardonnay, and 2% Muscat. It's a bit fruity but with a nice mineral snap to keep it crisp and refreshing.novaFri, 08 Jun 2007 23:04:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:63http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/67/Bloomberg-News-June-7-2007.aspx#Comments0http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=58&ModuleID=467&ArticleID=67http://www.bennettlane.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=67&PortalID=0&TabID=58http://www.bennettlane.com/Winery/Reviews/tabid/58/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/67/Bloomberg-News-June-7-2007.aspxBy Elin McCoy Nascar Turns Beer Guzzlers to Wine Sippers One by One At Bennett Lane Winery in the Napa Valley, a bright yellow 2007 Ford Fusion race car emblazoned with purple grapes and the winery's name is parked next to shiny stainless-steel wine tanks. ``It competes in all the Nascar West Series races,'' winery owner and Lynch Racing Team sponsor Randy Lynch says. Four-year-old Bennett Lane was the first winery to back a Nascar team. To give me some racetrack feel, Lynch, a former Nascar driver, climbs into this speed machine and revs up its 620-horsepower engine. The vroom echoes off the tanks as the car slowly rolls 20 feet (6 meters). On the sidelines, I sample Bennett Lane's latest release -- the crisp 2006 Maximus White -- and wonder whether this honeysuckle-scented wine can play in a world known for country music, turning left at 150 miles per hour and the lingering smell of burning rubber. Maybe Bennett Lane's turbocharged Primus Reserve cabernet sauvignon would be a better match. In the past few years, star drivers and team owners have been putting the pedal to the metal in making wine and slapping their names on the labels. ``The old Nascar image is changing,'' Lynch says. ``The audience is more upscale, and nearly half the fans are women.'' He and his wife, Lisa, first bought a weekend house and vineyard, intending to sell the grapes, but when the nearby winery became available, they decided it would be fun to get into the winemaking business, too. They already owned a Nascar team and saw marketing potential for their fledgling winery in the all-American sport's 75 million fans and new upmarket demographics. (Lynch Racing was in first place by 100 points in the West Series after the Napa 150 in Colorado on June 2. Lisa Lynch is starting a second team, named Maximus, that's set to run its first race on June 23.) `Moving Billboards' ``Nascar is about moving billboards,'' Lynch adds. ``And we like to think we're changing the beer guzzlers into wine sippers one race at a time.'' That seems to be happening. Wine spending among Nascar fans rose 22 percent last year, according to an ACNielsen survey released in February. This season, the 12 tracks staging Nascar Nextel Cup Series events are selling wine at concession stands for the first time, says Lenny Santiago, a spokesman for Daytona Beach, Florida-based racetrack operator International Speedway Corp. Santiago also reports that VIP-suite orders for expensive brands are way up. After all, the sport now attracts chief executives who fly in on private jets as well as good ol' boys driving up in pickups. It's no wonder that 106 of the companies in the Fortune 500 are marketing themselves through the sport, according to Andrew Giangola, director of business communications for Nascar. North Carolina Vineyard Racing mogul Richard Childress owns five teams and won six Nextel Cup championships with the late Nascar legend Dale Earnhardt. Childress learned to love wine while racing in Riverside, California, in the 1970s and dreamed of having his own vineyard someday. In 2004, he built his eponymous winery in North Carolina, a state in Nascar's home territory that now has 61 wineries. He says his mission is to cater to everyone from wine neophytes to collectors. Lexington-based Childress Vineyards has become a mecca for racing fans from nearby Lowe's Motor Speedway outside Charlotte. The winery's name isn't on cars -- yet -- but its new sparkling wine made it to the winner's circle at the beginning of the 2007 season. ``We sprayed and toasted Kevin Harvick with our Victory Cuvee when he won the Daytona 500, and then Jeff Burton at the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway,'' Childress says. Targeting Tailgaters Even wineries with no racing links want in. Sonoma, California-based Ravenswood Winery, whose high-powered zinfandels have gained a cult following, discovered that its fans liked to pop its zins' corks at racetrack tailgate parties. Ravenswood, which uses the motto ``No wimpy wines,'' sponsored three races in 2006. This year, the winery is backing teams in all 26 main Nascar events and provides the official wine for Sonoma's own Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point, north of San Francisco. The first driver to put his name on a label was Formula One world champion Mario Andretti in the mid-'90s. The latest is four-time Nextel Cup champion Jeff Gordon, who notched a record 78th career cup win on May 13. Last fall, he launched a high-end $45 chardonnay made by August Briggs Winery in Calistoga, California; a cabernet will debut this year. (Gordon also has his name and car number on a new energy drink from PepsiCo Inc.) Abruzzo to Australia The ties between auto racing and wine aren't limited to the U.S. Italian Formula One driver Jarno Trulli, with his rock star looks and custom shirts, is behind the Podere Castorani wine estate in Abruzzo. And Aussie Alan Heath, who turned winemaker after retiring in 2001, now makes four different lines at his Heath Wines in South Australia, from bargain to expensive collectible. As we all know, celebrity sells. But my bottom line is always, Are these wines any good? Some are and some aren't, though even the undistinguished ones would be fine served ice cold on a hot day at the racetrack. In addition to Bennett Lane, my top scores go to superstar Napa Valley winery Lewis Cellars, owned by retired pro driver Randy Lewis and his wife, Debbie. Lewis's 23-year career included time on the Formula Three circuit in Europe, where he learned to love wine. After a crash in 1992, Lewis left his high-speed life behind and launched his winery's full-throttle wines with the 1994 vintage. The labels don't trade on his racing connection, but the winery's Web site emits an unmistakable race-car whine when you first open the home page. The wines, from chardonnay to cult cab, are high enough octane to accompany any race. Tank up now. Nascar season ends in November. Nascar Dozen Here are 12 racing-star wines to try: ..... 2004 Bennett Lane Maximus ($35): A cab-merlot-syrah blend that's exceptionally tasty for the price. 2006 Bennett Lane Maximus White ($28): An elegant and citrusy sauvignon blanc-chardonnay-muscat mix. 2004 Bennett Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($55): Soft, plump and intense.........novaWed, 06 Jun 2007 23:10:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:67