Benchmark Drinks

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Great fragrance of dark berry, stone fruit and dark cherry. Drinks quite smoothly with a silkiness on the palate. Has flavors of dark cherry, currants, stone fruit with a hint of pepper. A little rich but very nice to drink! — 6 years ago

Boris EpsteinAnne Nauber
with Boris and Anne

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1994

The real deal. This was the best Napa wine I've had in awhile. Has the makings of one of Napa's benchmark wines for the ages. Thanks Tom Weldon — 9 years ago

Ryan, Henrik and 51 others liked this
Martin G Rivard

Martin G Rivard Influencer Badge

@Greg Gregory What are you doing 4/29?
Send me an email 👍
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

Your drinking good wine!!
Jeffrey Lew

Jeffrey Lew

This was the wine that hooked me on wine.

Belle Glos

Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

Big robust Pinot. Light silky mouthfeel with big and rich fruit. Blackberry in color and in taste. Jammy with a long lingering finish. Not a typical Pinot, drinks more like a zin/cab. Would give it a 9.0-9.1, but dinged it a bit given the price point. — 9 years ago

E. Guigal

La Doriane Condrieu Viognier

Rich in aroma, flavor, and texture. The oak was there but what caught my attention more was the white floral and lychee notes. On the palate it's dense, extremely pure, with a huge finish that shows acidity buried down deep in the wine. Great stuff if you can try it, a benchmark from one of the greatest sites in Condrieu! — 10 years ago

Eric, Anthony and 3 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2004

Maturing well and softer tannins for a cab sav than other Serge Hochar wines. Drinks well now. — 10 years ago

Daou Vineyards

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

This wine is incredibly good, great price, drinks well with red meat. — 10 years ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2013

Wonderfully light and soft, vibrant and pure fruit framed by subtle minerality. Wine basically drinks itself. — 11 years ago

Marissa Perlman
with Marissa

Hirsch Vineyards

San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir 2007

Where do I even begin? I was the winemaker's assistant this vintage for a very stressed and haunted man. David Hirsch didn't believe in air pumps then, and the press that was installed at the winery wasn't quite high enough to press into barrel with Gravity.... So I can honestly claim that I punched down every lot everyday every time, and I hand bucketed every drop of wine in paint buckets out of the press and up into barrel. Still I never got a bottle of the stuff until I bought it recently for 35 off Benchmark. As dangerous and chaotic of a harvest gig it was, the wine now sure tastes worth all the hellfire. — 11 years ago

Chantal, Jeff and 1 other liked this
Jeff Chaney

Jeff Chaney

The labor inspired the most prolific series of indie folk-tronica songs ever written. -Rolling Stone Magazine "Notes from the Rock n' Roll Expressway"

Château Malescot St. Exupéry

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend

An early evening HH at home with a fabulous Bordeaux wine. Color is a dark brown especially on the edges Red fruit and dark plum with a subtle barnyard lingering on the nose. Tastes of black fruit, currant and leather with earthy and smoky flavors and a sweet finish; tannins are mild and drinks smoothly. — 6 years ago

Shay and Laura liked this

Orin Swift Cellars

Machete Petite Sirah Blend

This drinks bold, can be paired with food or without. So damn good. Another bottle please. — 8 years ago

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Collection Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2010

The epitome of a rioja. Strawberry on the nose. Juicy, full bodied, just dry enough. — 9 years ago

Emily Aparicio
with Emily

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

Somm David T
9.3

For me and considering the price difference, this is close to Krug Rosé. It's doesn't bring the full joy and palate dance Krug gives. However, for a $160- $200 less, it's in the ballpark. The fruits shine; black cherries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon, tangerine, citrus blossoms & English biscuits. The chalkiness & minerality has precision and cuts sharply across the tongue. The acidity is perfectly crisp and the rich finish simply doesn't stop. This is certainly a benchmark of very good Rosé champagne. — 9 years ago

Brian, Trixie and 17 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Sorry...8 more bottles and still batting 1000.
Shawn R

Shawn R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Paul T I'm with @David Trumper never had an issue.
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

My go to

Las Vertientes

Reserva Benchmark Red Blend 2013

2013. Valerie and I had it with spicy chicken and squash. Noticeably dry. Bought two at Bevmo! probably with 5¢ sale. (2014 is no good.) — 10 years ago

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Joshua Thomas
9.2

As classic as they come. Cassis and blackberry. Slight green peppercorn, leather tack, red flowers, crushed rock. Exactly what I want from this benchmark producer. — 10 years ago

Kurt-Inge liked this

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013

I read on Delectable that this Pinot is a Cab lover's Pinot and she was right. I usually pass on Pinot because a good one is so hard for me to find. But this one is really, really good. I've had the Belle Glos from Meiomi, which I've liked as well, but this is equally as good. Great spice along with the fruit. Found this on sale on Cape Cod for $17 - a bargain for wine that drinks like this. — 10 years ago

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2011

Benchmark example of St Joseph — 11 years ago

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Rosé Blend 2012

Benchmark Rose - worth the tarriff — 11 years ago

Sheela Tallman
with Sheela
Sheela and Anthony liked this
Sheela Tallman

Sheela Tallman

Excellent rose from Bandol France
10

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Very enjoyable Bordeaux. The earth and spices come through very clearly. Not as much fruit as I'd like but a very good nose and tremendous body. Drinks very well with grilled lamb. — 12 years ago

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Chablis Chardonnay 2017

A little sugar and Chablis — 6 years ago

Paul liked this

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Collection Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015

First New Zealand Pinot...really enjoyed it! Light body and finish, but very flavorful and a bit spicy. — 7 years ago

Robert Mondavi Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Drinks much better when you're out to sea!😝😝😝😝🍷🍷🍷🍷👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 — 8 years ago

Rob, Shay and 16 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

Now I see why Natalie was asking about life insurance last time we were there,
Shark bait!
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

Your living large , Bob

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

What a great benchmark for the capabilities of aged Californian, it's still quite intense & fruit driven, but has some great developed character all the same. Great wine. — 9 years ago

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Collection Reserva Valle de Colchagua Carménère 2014

Dark cherry/berry, dark chocolate, pepper. Opens up nicely & improves, lovely legs. Worth another bottle! — 9 years ago

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 2012

Fruit forward. Heavier tannins than expected but drinks great. Will be outstanding in a few years. Ridge never disappoints. — 10 years ago

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

A solid Deuxsieme Cru from a nice terroir. Dark Rudy color with bold red fruit, fresh jam, and oak. Drinks super well. Will definitely be getting more to collect — 10 years ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Tight and young but my god the fruit is divine. A benchmark of the best Napa can offer. — 10 years ago

Kyle and Joseph liked this

Bodegas Drinks and Dreams

D + D Douro+Duero Douro Red Blend

Great Georgian toast is to your neighbor - he is the most important, especially if you moved into new place.

Here are neighbors from one river banks, but different countries. Sogevinus Fine Wines & Bodegas Emilio Moro - made this opulent, rich and silky wine. Elegant fruit, wrapped into noble oak, great wine -with each sip I can contemplate about toasts wisdom - vostok delo tonkoe.

Maybe missing a bit of length,but I forgive them, the balance is perfect. Don't expect claws, this is tuxedo dress code.
— 11 years ago

William Hill Estate Winery

Benchmark Napa Valley Red Blend 2009

A well-balanced Bordeaux-style blend, this wine offered rich licorice and mocha flavors with thick tannins. — 12 years ago

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Needs to breathe a bit at first, but drinks well. Tastes more expensive than it is. Good red! — 12 years ago