2003 Tribute
- AVA: Sonoma Mountain
- Vineyard: Benziger Estate
Tribute, a Bordeaux blend produced from 100% estate grapes grown at the Benziger Family Ranch on Sonoma Mountain, is the first Demeter-certified Biodynamic® wine from Napa and Sonoma Counties and one of the first in North America.
Biodynamics is the highest form of organic farming in the world. It goes beyond the elimination of chemicals to represent a complete and wholistic system of agriculture that views the farm as a living organism intimately connected with its environment. The goal of a Biodynamic wine is not perfection, but rather to truly and authentically reflect the variety, vintage,place and passion of the people who make it.
Demeter is a third party certifier of traditional Biodynamic practices and the oldest such agency in the United States. Certification, the ultimate guarantee of tradition and purity in the production of agricultural products, is extremely difficult to achieve and must be renewed annually.
2003 TRIBUTE | was bottled in May of 2005 after 18 months in French oak barrels (35% new barrels) and bottled unfiltered and aged for one year before release in May of 2006. Enjoy it now (decanting will add to its enjoyment) but it will continue to develop over the next 9 to 12 years. It will easily age for 15 to 20 years under propercellar conditions. Alc. 14.5% | TA .6 | pH 3.76
VINTAGE | The 2003 vintage had the challenge of large swings between cool and very hot temperatures. We green harvested several times to eliminate stressed fruit and picked most of our blocks of grapes with two to three passes in order to get perfect fruit. The resulting wine contains silky tannins and a beautiful mid-palate feel. The finish is powerful.
AROMA | Blackberry, chocolate, black pepper, coffee with slight additions of tobacco and black licorice.
2002 TRIBUTE
96 POINTS – Wine Access - #1 Wine of 2005
94 POINTS – Wine Enthusiast – Editor’s Choice
93 POINTS “A great follow-up to their
breakthrough effort in 2001...”- Robert Parker, Jr.
2001 TRIBUTE
92 POINTS - Wine Spectator
94 POINTS - Wine Enthusiast
94 POINTS “A breakthrough effort for Benziger...” - Robert Parker, Jr.
95 POINTS “...Certainly one of the best ever for Benziger.” - Wine Access
69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc,11% Merlot , 5% Petit Verdot
Biodynamics
The highest form of organic farming, Biodynamics takes a holistic view of the farm as a living organism. Homeopathic applications enhance soil vitality, biodiversity helps balance the ecosystem and a closed nutrient system allows a site to develop true terrioir. 3rd party certified by the Demeter Assoication.
Biodynamics at BenzigerOrganics
Organic grape growing avoids the use of synthetic chemicals and uses natural methods like crop rotation, tillage and natural composts to maintain soil health as well as natural methods to control weeds, insects and other pests.
Certified Sustainable
Benziger’s third-party certified-sustainable program is one of the most comprehensive of any single winery in the country. The program, which emphasizes environmentally sound growing methods, such as biodiversity, soil revitalization and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the first step in transitioning a vineyard from conventional to organic.
Certified Sustainablewines at Benziger
