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2009 Benovia Bella Una Pinot Noir

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

January 1, 2017 - $36

Estimate

RATINGS

92Stephen Tanzer

Intensely perfumed bouquet of raspberry, cherry, Asian spices and deeper licorice. Sappy and incisive, offering powerful red fruit flavors that take a darker turn in the mid-palate and pick up a note of bitter chocolate.

90Wine Spectator

Combines rich flavors with a delicate, subtle delivery, offering savory wild berry, fresh earth and mineral flavors, with touches of cranberry, red licorice and floral scents. Medium-bodied and most satisfying for its layered finish.

PRODUCER

Benovia

Benovia was founded in 2005 when Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane decided to leave their careers in health care and purchase a vineyard near Healdsburg. The couple found a business partner in Mike Sullivan, a winemaker who now is co-owner, general manager and winemaker. Benovia owns 71 acres of vineyards in the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and Sonoma County AVAs. The estate makes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Grenache, and the wine is generally available only through the estate’s mailing list.

REGION

United States, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

TYPE

Red Wine, Pinot Noir

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.