From their website: Benziger Family Winery is creating a new definition of wine quality through its certified sustainable, organic and Biodynamic® winegrowing practices. Their 85 acre, certified Biodynamic Sonoma Mountain estate has become a research and teaching center for the cultivation of grapes with more flavor, intensity and site-specific vineyard character. The family shares its farming knowledge and experience with their longtime grower partners throughout Sonoma County.Body: medium to full
Color: ruby red
Aromas: black cherry, black plum, tea, tobacco, earth
Tasting Notes: Initial aromas are earthy elements like tea, tobacco and herbs.
In the mouth, our 2005 Syrah has dark fruit flavors of black cherry and ripe plum. This wine boasts a long finish with notes of vanilla and toast from the oak barrel aging.Grapes for all Benziger wines are grown by one of three farming methods: certified sustainable, organic or Biodynamic. By reducing artificial inputs that mask the unique personality of vineyard sites, restoring the land and encouraging biodiversity on the farm, Benziger growers distinguish their fruit from all others. This distinction is of great importance to the grape grower who makes a truly unique product, but also to the consumer who can trust that the passion of family farming a
nd the delicious diversity of Sonoma County can be tasted in every bottle of high quality, handcrafted Benziger wine.Vinification: After working through the growing season to maximize the potential of each vineyard, grapes from warm and cool vineyard sites were crushed and individually cold-soaked prior to fermentation to extract color and intensity while controlling tannins. Fermentation took place in closed-top fermentors for a week and a half with twice daily pump-overs at temperatures up to 85 degrees. The lots were aged in oak barrels for 14 months. The wines were blended and bottled in January of 2007.
Eat with: ragoût of wild boar, soft polenta, fried artichoke hearts & lemon-herb breadcrumbs.
Website: http://www.benziger.com
