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My Rating (circle) :
Date Printed: 5/26/2013
Benton Lane Pinot Gris 2005
Benton Lane Pinot Gris 2005
 (search item no. 87850)
screw cap wine

Wine & Spirits rating: 92 points
PRICE ON 5/26/2013: $16.79

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2011 Wine & Spirits rating: 88 points
2010 Wine & Spirits rating: 93 points
2009 Wine Spectator rating: 89 points
2009 The Wine Advocate rating: 89 points
2009 Wine Enthusiast rating: 88 points
2008 Wine & Spirits rating: 93 points
2006 Wine & Spirits rating: 92 points

Winemaker's Notes:
We produce artisan crafted, Willamette Valley Pinot Gris from carefully selected vineyards. This pale straw colored Pinot Gris displays generous floral, pear, and white peach aromas. On the palate this beautifully balanced wine is initially crisp with zesty citrus and granny smith apple flavors that lead into a delightfully fruity finish which is long and extremely clean. This refreshing wine goes extraordinarily well with shellfish, creamy pasta dishes, light appetizers and sunny weather. Enjoy!
"
"A ripe Oregon gris, this wine has a luxurious opulence that brings to mind Alsace wines. It smells of pears and apples overlaid with notes of vanilla bean, nutmeg and sweet pea blossoms. On the palate it's rich and elegant, concentrated and deep, its pear flavors brought to a close with a lofty minerality. It will stand up to choucroute with aplomb."
- Wine Enthusiast
"
My Notes:

Additional wines from Benton Lane:

About Benton Lane:

 Steve and Carol Girard have been owners of Benton-Lane since 1988. Carol and Steve shared a passionate desire to produce great Pinot Noir but decided their native California was probably not the best place in which to make it. Instead, they headed to Oregon where the cooler climate offered the possibility of producing Pinot Noir with better balance and structure.

After countless months of looking at possible properties, Carol and Steve discovered an old sheep ranch called "Sunnymount" in the southern Willamette Valley. It was immediately apparent Sunnymount held great potential as a vineyard site. The property is in the foothills of the costal mountain range on the west side of the valley with hillsides sloping east by southeast, a perfect orientation for planting Pinot Noir.

Sunnymount straddled the border between Benton and Lane counties with some of the land being in each, and so the name Benton-Lane was born. Carol and Steve purchased the property in 1988 and planting of Pinot Noir commenced in 1989. Benton-Lane’s first vintage was 1992 which was custom produced at another local winery. This process continued until 1997 when the Benton-Lane winery was constructed.

Benton-Lane produced Pinot Noir exclusively until 2003. In 2004, the winery began full-scale commercial production of Pinot Gris from grapes purchased from carefully selected Willamette Valley growers.