Articles

Articles

1999 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

91 POINTS, Outstanding California Cabernet Under $50, Wine Spectator, November 2002
DOUBLE GOLD, 2003 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
GOLD, 2003 Pacific Rim International Wine Competition
SILVER, 2003 Orange County Fair Wine Competition
SILVER, 2003 Tasters Guild International Wine Judging
SILVER, 2003 West Coast Wine Competition
SILVER, 2003 San Diego National Wine Competition
88 POINTS, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, California Grapevine, May 2003

“…provocative and hypnotic…a wine that seethes with seamless elements of smoke and ash, roots and branches, lavender and violets and minerals and very concentrated cassis, black raspberry and black cherry flavors. This one smolders in the glass. Excellent.” - Fredric Koeppel
SILVER, 2003 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
ONE PUFF, Connoisseurs Guide to California Wine “…it is deep and will last a long time, and it is one that fans of bold wines will want to cellar.”

ONE PUFF, “…this well-filled effort sets more than adequate black cherry fruit alongside complementary nuances of walnuts, minerals and cola within a plush, supple and slightly velvety texture. Tannins are well-integrated and backed up by a hint of firming acidity, and, while it offers lots to like today, this one will be better with a couple of years of bottle age.” Connoisseurs Guide to California Wine, May 2003
88 POINTS, Wine Enthusiast “Tart-sweet, with an interesting peach-apricot-mango overlay on the deep cherry fruit core. Smoke and vanilla accents and an even, dense texture give this wine the mouthfeel equivalent of a luxury car ride. Tart, dry fruit shines on the long finish. Drinkable now, it’s structured enough to develop over the next two years.”
“…lovely in weight and density, expansive in ripe and intense black cherry and cola scents and flavors, and calls up a complex box of dried spices. Excellent.” - Fredric Koeppel
88 POINTS, Pinot Report, April 2003

ONE PUFF “anything but conventional in its complex and outgoing aromatic display of honey, toast, lees, herbs and slightly developed apple-like fruit, this fat, big-bodied wine follows with like-minded flavors that place a premium on the same leesy, oaky, honeyed qualities in lieu of typical fruit. It is fairly intense and sure to hold attention when teamed with highly flavored foods, and, even if wandering off the beaten path, it wins a star entirely by virtue of its insistent sense of richness.” Connoisseurs’ Guide
SILVER, 2002 Tasters Guild International

GOLD, BEST OF CLASS 2003 West Coast Wine Competition
GOLD, 2003 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
GOLD, 2003 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
SILVER, 2003 Los Angeles County Fair Wines of the World Competition
SILVER, 2003 Tasters Guild International Wine Judging
SILVER, 2003 Pacific Rim International Wine Competition
SILVER, 2003 San Diego National Wine Competition
SILVER, 2002 Sonoma County Harvest Fair
87 POINTS, Wine Spectator, June 15, 2003
“Bright aromas of rich black fruit and plum…concentrated fruit…long sweet finish. A jammy crowd pleaser.” San Francisco Chronicle, January 9, 2003

“…one of the winery’s most consistent and good wines and always a reasonable value.” Decanter
SILVER, 2003 Los Angeles County Fair Wines of the World Competition

90 POINTS, Wine Enthusiast “Opens with a burst of blackberry, mint, game and smoky oak, and turns rich and flavorful in the mouth, with enormous concentration and depth of flavor. Bone dry, the fancy berry flavors float in a silky texture framed by toasty oak.” July 2002
GOLD, 2002 Sonoma County Harvest Fair

TWO PUFFS, “Showing some of the complexities exhibited by 1999 Reserve Pinot Noir, this Benziger effort is deep and ripe with a stronger emphasis on terroir-driven, rooty and cola-like notes along with glimpses of tobacco and chocolate. Fairly full in weight and fleshy in feel on the palate, it is open and accessible at every stop and seems to invite early drinking.” Connoissuers Guide, May 2003

91 POINTS, Pinot Report, April 2003
86 POINTS, Wine Spectator Oct 2002 “Cola, bramble and hot, dry wood make up the powerful bouquet, with strawberry and herbal green flavors following. Steeped tea and tangy red fruit carries the finish of this balanced Pinot that offers both nice balance and a full mouthfeel.”