Benziger Tribute 2008
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Wine &
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Winemaker Notes
Delicious with grilled sirloin steak, braised meats or game.
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Wine Enthusiast
Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine was grown on the warmer slopes of Sonoma Mountain, a less known but respected part of Sonoma County. It's dry and firm in tannins, with rich flavors of blackberries, currants, mocha and oak. Flashy and delicious now, it should gain in the bottle over the next six years.
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Wine & Spirits
Mike Benziger developed this estate wine with Alan York, who helped him convert the family’s vineyards to biodynamics. Mostly cabernet sauvignon (79 percent) with small amounts of franc, petit verdot and merlot, the 2008 follows in the character of previous vintages, balancing earthy intensity with graceful richness. The fruit tones shade toward black mushroom, the umami savor uncovering a range of flavors with time in the glass, as if digging in moist woodland soil. Scents of violets contrast that deep earthiness, leaving an impression of balance and clarity. For the cellar.
Other Vintages
2014-
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Wine
Enthusiast
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.