Recently on a trip through Napa I stopped at Bennett Lane Winery and low and behold in the back of the winery I found the strangest thing, a NASCAR racecar. Now being from the south my interest was peaked so I asked Stefanie Longton what the story was. The owner and his wife Randy and Lisa Lynch also own Bennett Lane Race Team, a NASCAR West team, that in 2007 won the Grand National Division West Series Championship, and was the first winery to sponsor the Nextel Cup car. As Randy says “I started drinking wine inthe ‘80’s and red wine in the ‘90’s and know that if wine can be crafted in away that’s approachable, understandable and just plain tastes good, there is potential for a new fan base. I think there’s a huge untapped market out there in the racing world, with team owners, drivers, teams, and fans that are all looking to learn about and try wine.”

 So now I know this guy can handle the adrenaline of racing, how does his wine stand up?  So to find out a bellied up to the tasting room bar for a $10 flight of four of his wines, the Cabernet, Reserve Chardonnay, and the red and white Maximus blends. Every single one was out of this world, possessing great structure and fruit depth, like in racing all of these wines were winners! All of the wines could be enjoyed now but also have the ability to age and grow more complex. Some highlights of the tasting were as follows.

 2007 Bennett Lane White Maximus ($28)

 Great aromas especially honeysuckle and grapefruit, seeing that the blend is 86% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Chardonnay, and 2% Muscat it was amazing how the Muscat had such a big influence in the nose. Once it hits the mouth you find a perfectly balance of fruit and acidity. Notes of mineriality and pears flow into softer orange zest and summer fruit notes. The finish lets the ripe sweet citrus notes shine and a crispness to keep the taste buds aroused for the next sip!

 2007 Bennett Lane Los Carneros Reserve Chardonnay ($45)

 Finding a reserve Chardonnay that has a perfect balance of oak and fruit can be a hard job, but to make an excellent one such as this is a delightful find. Aromas of baked granny smith apples and spice fill the glass, and flow like silk into a treasure trove of yellow apples, caramel, and tropical fruit notes seasoned perfectly with a touch of oak. Very well made and worth every cent!

 2006 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)

 Now this Cabernet can stand own its own or with a meal, talk about some high octane fruit and power, this wine has all of that plus the ability to go the extra mile in each sip. Aromas of cocoa and black plum fill the glass and develop into a velvety tasting experience. The flavors of the plum are matched by ripe cherries, dried cranberries and dark fruit richness. Now the finish draws all of the fruit together with a vanilla bean and clove note. A big Cabernet for the price.

Another fun tidbit I learned was that they offer a unique blending experiences for groups of six or more with advance reservations, called “Put a Cork in It!” which allows you to blend your own bottle of Maximus using their Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah. While you taste the wines of Bennett Lane and the different variations between the grapes you can enjoy different cheeses chosen by the staff for each wine. You than get to bottle your wine and cork it to enjoy later that evening or later for a special occasion. Another great part of the tasting room is the petting vineyard where you can see and during harvest taste the different red and white grapes and vines. It is really interesting to taste a chardonnay grape and that try a sauvignon blanc one. Also it is rare that you get to view the different vines and grape clusters side by side. The winery is only open by appointment only and allows you take your own picnic lunch.

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