Review: Wines of Signaterra, 2011 Releases
Recently we went another round with Benziger, courtesy of its second label, Signaterra, an organic and sustainably-farmed line of wines. Thoughts on each of the bottlings follow.
2010 Signaterra Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley Shone Farm Vineyard – Lots of vegetation on the nose, but the body is cleaner — lemons, tropical notes, some herbs. Solid acidity. B+ / $24
2009 Signaterra West Rows Chardonnay Carneros Sangiacomo Vineyard – Big orange notes, plus butter and nuts. Creamy but not overwhelming, and the wood is restrained. One of the better oaked Chardonnays I’ve had in recent memory. B+ / $32
2009 Signaterra Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Bella Luna Vineyard – A moderate body Pinot, with good acidity, and lots of good strawberry and dark cherry fruit. Really enjoyable, but the finish is a touch thin — perhaps because it’s too warm here in SF today. Pop it in the fridge for half an hour. B+ / $49
2007 Signaterra Three Blocks Sonoma Valley Red Wine – A Cabernet Sauvignon (76%)/Merlot (24%) blend. Still drinking young, lots of coffee and chocolate character, with (again) a nicely acidic backbone. One of my favorites of the event, with lots of life left in it. A- / $50
2008 Signaterra Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley Sunny Slope Vineyard – Surprising sweetness here, with a smoldering finish. Its intensity fades after a time, leaving behind a rather staid Cab with a traditional makeup. B+ / $65
2008 Signaterra Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley Sunny Slope Vineyard
$65
