Vineyard: Bella Luna

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Churchill Cellars: A Piece of Pinot Heaven (8.18 7/15/2010)
Benziger Pinot Noir Program Now Shines (8.12 3/11/2010)
Recent Stops on the Pinot Trail (9.26 6/23/2013)
Benovia Winery: Hidden Gem (8.2 10/3/2009)
A Trip Well Taken (8.41 7/23/2011)
Sips of 2006 California Pinot Noirs (7.21 7/9/2009)
Churchill Wine Cellars (6.43 10/20/2007)
Benovia Winery (7.6 11/17/2008)
Adventures Along the Pinot Trail, Part 3 (6.34 7/30/2007)
Sips of Recently Tasted Sonoma County Pinot Noir (10.31 6/5/2016)
Churchill Cellars (6.8 12/10/2006)
More Sips of Pinot (9.16 12/10/2012)

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Churchill Cellars
Benovia Winery
Benziger Family Winery

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2014 Benovia Bella Una Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc.. A blend of estate fruit. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Fresh aromas of cherry, strawberry and red grape. More forward drinking with flavors of red and dark red cherries and berries. Very silky, with juicy acidity, balanced tannins and an overall impression of vibrancy. Score: 91-92. Reviewed June 5, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Benovia Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 250 cases. 100% estate fruit. 30% whole cluster. · Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. The nose is not open for business yet showing faint aromas of purple fruits. Middleweight flavors of blackberries, black plum and spice underlain with subtle oak, sporting supple tannins, and finishing with good intensity. I especially like the tannic mouth feel on the end. Very good. Reviewed June 23, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Signaterra Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.56, TA 0.62, 629 cases, $50. Released September 2012. Demeter Certified Biodynamic® vineyard. Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777. Yields 2.52 tons per acre. Native yeast fermentation and spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Aged 18 months in 35% new French oak barrels. Unfiltered. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of Bing cherries and espresso oak. Discretely concentrated core of dark cherry fruit with accents of clove, nutmeg and cola. Admirable restraint and appealingly delicate, with a lovely fruit core, but displaying too much of an oak topcoat at present. This wine will appeal to those who like plenty of oak with their Pinot Noir. Good. Reviewed December 8, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Benovia Bella Una Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

$56. An hi-end blend from the different subregions of the Russian River Valley (Green Valley, Middle Reach and Laguna de Santa Rosa). Clones 115 and 828 primarily from Seven Mules and Manzani vineyards. · Vibrant scent of mixed berries, sandalwood and Asian 5-spice. A very elegant and sophisticated wine with crisp dark red cherry and berry flavors filling the mid palate with joy and softly exiting with aromatic intensity. Very good. Reviewed July 23, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.6% alc., pH 3.59, 120 cases, $45. Dijon clones 115, 459, 667 and 777. Aged 18 months in barrel. Released March 1, 2010. · Aromas of red and black cherries, balsam and menthol. Moderately rich mouthful of dark red stone fruits, an underlying savory note of herbal oak, healthy, ripe tannins and a big fruity finish. Plenty of fruit front and center, but not jammy and brought into focus with lively acidity. Good. Reviewed July 15, 2010 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Signaterra Benziger Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., pH 3.50, 1,350 cases, $49. The Bella Luna Vineyard is one of the coolest vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Clones 115, 667 and 777 are planted in Goldridge soils and the vineyard is now in transition to official Demeter Biodynamic© certification. Aged 11 months in 35% new French oak. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Haunting aromas of darker berries, oak vanillin and toast. Very tasty panoply of purple fruits with hints of cranberry and pomegranate. Rich and persuasive on the palate filling the mouth with pleasure and leaving a smooth and soft imprint on the pleasing finish. A fruit driven style with restrained tannins and a hint of lemon peel on the lively finish. A lovely wine that will find many fans. Reviewed March 11, 2010 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Benovia Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 181 cases, $58. The name Bella means “beautiful together” and represents a special blend of several vineyards from the Russian River Valley. · Very charming nose of black raspberries, forest floor, wine cellar and a hint of smoke. Generous core of black cherries and black raspberries with a hint of citrus, framed by fine-grain tannins and offering a huge fruity finish. Still reserved and elusive, but approachable now. This one aims to please. Score: 90. Reviewed October 3, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.95% alc. (labeled 14.5%), pH 3.56, 275 cases, $39. Aged 18 months in barrel. Dijon clones 115, 459, 667 and 777. Released September 1, 2008. · Moderately light garnet color. Bright perfume of strawberries, Bing cherries and underbrush which fades some over time in the glass with some heat showing up. Tasty flavors of red cherries and strawberries with soft tannins, an appealing lift of cherry fruit on the finish, and exemplary finesse. Good. Reviewed July 15, 2010 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Benziger Signaterra Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $40. · Fairly garnet color. A light and elegantly styled Pinot Noir that has some charming ripe cherry and berry fruit aromas and flavors with underlying dark caramel notes from oak and a juicy grip of citric peel on the bright finish. Harmonious with ripe, dry tannins and alluring finesse. Reviewed July 9, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Benovia Bella Una Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 168 cases, $58. This was known in the barrel as the “proprietary blend” which doesn’t sound too appealing. Benovia turned to their customers who came up with the name which means “beautiful together” in Latin. · Deep and darkly colored. Intoxicating and gorgeous aromas of rich black cherry jam and ripe plums. Would love to bottle this nose. Luscious dark-fruited core that is rich and plush and nicely spiced with soft tannins and a finish that gradually fades away with a smooth follow through like a Kobe Bryant jump shot. A complete wine that offers finesse with power. The Pinot Geek would drink this wine now while the 2006 Cohn and Savoy Benovia Pinot Noirs develop in the bottle. Reviewed November 17, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $45, 233 cases. A nine day cold soak with 10% whole clusters. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak which is air dried for 36 months. · Right in step with the luscious 2004 edition. Terrific aromatics featuring candied cherry, spice, and newlysawn wood. Easily approachable with layers of sweet red Pinot fruit, leather, mocha, oak and herbs. Fine and creamy in texture with integrated tannins and impeccable balance. Will only improve with cellaring. The future looks bright for this young vineyard. Reviewed October 20, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

$45. The 1-acre Bella Luna Vineyard is the only one in the Russian River Valley planted with the new Dijon clone 459. · The most striking feature of this wine is the leather and dark chocolate aromas and flavors which are quite unique and attributable to clone 459. Reviewed July 30, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 124 cases, $45. 15-18% whole clusters. Aging and winemaking the same as above. · The aromatics in this wine are to die for: ripe cherries, vanilla, and Xmas spice. Tasted over a few hours, the wine kept pumping out these terrific aromas and I was thoroughly content just to sniff. It was a nose you could drink. I am convinced that this type of perfume is distinctive and typical of great Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. The wine is full-bodied and rich with red and black fruits and tea flavors, but the nose trumps the flavors at this point. The mouth feel is luxurious. A slight astringency at the finish will flush out with cellaring. This vineyard is a star in the making and in the same mold as its neighboring prestigious vineyards such as Olivet Lane and Olivet Grange. Reviewed December 10, 2006 WINERY » ARTICLE »