Benmar “Into the Fog” Pinot Noir
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Into the Fog Pinot Noir is an enticing organic blend that showcases the exceptional qualities of two renowned vineyards in Willamette Valley, Oregon.
- Eighty-five percent of the fruit is sourced from a vineyard in Dundee Hills AVA, located in front of the prestigious NYSA vineyard. The remaining fifteen percent comes from the esteemed Cattrall Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills.
- This elegant and expressive Pinot Noir is a testament to the exceptional quality achieved through organic farming practices.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Grapes are destemmed and undergo a 72-hour cold soak with pump-overs and punch-downs. After pressing and settling for eight days, the wine is transferred to barrels for 10 months of élevage, followed by six months of barrel-to-barrel racking.
Tasting Notes: On the nose, this Pinot Noir offers a captivating combination of ripe red cherries, wild strawberries, and a subtle earthiness, complemented by delicate aromas of rose petals, cinnamon, and a hint of forest floor. The palate offers a harmonious fusion of blackcap raspberries, licorice fern, cedar, and sweet earth, intermingling with fresh, juicy red fruit. The wine’s energetic acidity and graceful tannins provide a perfect backdrop for the complex brininess and mouth-watering vibrancy that are the hallmarks of the Dundee Hills terroir. The influence of the Eola-Amity Hills is evident in the ethereal note of wild rose that emerges on the finish, alongside spiced oak and a mouth-coating basalt minerality.
PRESS
2023 – 96 Decanter
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Greg Bybee has over fourteen years of experience in the wine industry, focusing on the Pacific Northwest. He discovered his passion for wine in 2008 while working at Rochioli Vineyards, where he learned to craft Pinot Noir.
As a founding member and curator for Vivino, he gained insights into what wine lovers seek from Oregon wines, which inspired his winemaking journey.
He named his venture “Benmar” after his children, Benben and Marecca, and his wife, Jen, whose photography appears on the labels. Together, they have introduced Benmar wines to the world.