At the northernmost end of the Napa Valley, where the valley floor
meets the Mayacamas Mountains, you will find Calistoga’s
wine tasting treasure, Bennett Lane Winery. This is the perfect
spot to start your winery tours at the top of the valley in the
morning or to end your touring in the afternoon, as the sun sets
on the Palisades.
As one of the newer wineries in the Napa Valley, opened in fall of 2003 by Randy and Lisa Lynch, Bennett Lane is turning heads with its rich and velvety Cabernet Sauvignon and unique red wine blend, Maximus. Randy and Lisa pride themselves in making small lots of these hand crafted wines that display the individual characters of the soil and microclimates of their vineyards.
The
winery currently has four wines available at the tasting room,
all 100% Napa Valley. The 2003 Chardonnay is the only white wine
release available, produced with fruit from the south end of the
Napa Valley. This cooler climate is the ideal location for Chardonnay,
making the wine crisp, clean, and balanced. The wine shows hints
of pineapple and melon with subtle hints of oak and good natural
acidity.
Bennett Lane’s red wine blend, Maximus, is a unique proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Lynch describes Maximus as “our effort to bring ripe, high-quality Napa Valley red wine to consumers at a price that many of us can afford.” The critics agree with him as well, with Robert Whitley stating, “Maximus may well be the best red wine in Napa priced at less than $30. The current vintage, 2002, displays characters of wild berry, dried fruit, clove, fig, and white pepper with bright backgrounds of plum and cherry.
The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout among Napa Valley Cabs with fruit from some of the finest vineyards in the valley. Bernnett Lane’s goal in Cabernet production is to create a wine that is approachable young, but nonetheless age worthy. The 2002 lives up to this goal, with aromas of bright cherry, berry, sandalwood, and rose petals. The wine has nice weight on the palate, with lush tannins and a velvety finish.
Primus is the name for Bennett Lane’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a true reserve made from the two finest barrel lots in the cellar. 2002 is the inaugural release of the Primus, with only 50 cases produced. Lush wild berry, mocha, and violet aromas prevail, with understated hints of oak in the background. Mouth coating layers of ripe cherry and plum are framed by chewy, yet mature tannins. This wine is exclusively available at the winery’s tasting room.
The tasting room is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5:30 pm and their staff will be happy to give you a tour of the small, boutique facility. There is a beautiful picnic facility available to tasting room guests, with stunning views of Mt Saint Helena.
For visitors from Golden Haven, we offer a complimentary tasting of our current release wines when you identify yourself by presenting your room or spa receipt.
Bennett Lane
3340 Highway 128
Calistoga , CA94515
707-942-6684
Hours: 10:00 to 5:30 daily
Website: http://www.bennettlane.com