Winemaker Notes
An extraordinary single-vineyard Pinot Noir, this wine gives an immediate impression of depth and concentration in the glass, with remarkably explosive aromas of dark plum, black cherry, and boysenberry. The palate is rich in texture, yet light on its feet, with fine-polished tannins and exceptionally balanced acidity. Judicious use of whole clusters in the fermentation gives the wine a broad and satisfying mouthfeel.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Expressive, with spicy richness to the dark cherry and plum tart flavors, flanked by powerful minerally accents. The creamy finish feature notes of hot stone and hints of savory. Complex. Drink now through 2026.
-
Connoisseurs' Guide
Ripeness plays a slightly more obvious role here and imparts a good deal of outgoing succulence to this plush, very full-flavored, bigbodied working along with a scant streak of finishing heat, but, although the wine might be justifiably criticized by some for its lack of nuance and subtle detail, it will never be damned for any shortfall of substance and is sure to be readily embraced by those whose tastes in Pinot Noir run to showy, unbridled fruity richness. While none of Benovia’s current lot are wines we would pick to pour with foods better suited to service with Pinots that reside on the lighter end of the varietal spectrum, this one, in particular, asks to be teamed with hearty braises and well-seasoned meats on the bone.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Pinot Noir La Pommeraie has aromas of cranberry jelly, rhubarb, cinnamon stick, dried earth and herbs with an undercurrent of spices. The medium-bodied palate is packed with ripe, spicy fruits in a silky-textured frame, finishing long and spicy.
While the Russian River Valley is a large appellation with multiple climate zones and soil types, it is best known for cool-climate varieties, with Pinot Noir as the most celebrated. The grapes benefit from a reliable late afternoon flow of Pacific Ocean fog through the Petaluma Gap and along the Russian River Valley that ensures slow and steady ripening and the preservation of grape acidity. Today many of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir vineyards are in the Russian River Valley, along with its sub-appellation, Green Valley.
Historically Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs had bright red fruit and delicate earthy, mineral notes. But changes in viticultural and winemaking practices have led to stylistic changes in some of the region’s wines. Adjustments to canopy management, among other techniques, have resulted in riper fruit and bolder wines as well. These show flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and darker, loamy earth tones, accenting traditional Pinot Noir notes of strawberry, raspberry and light cherry.