Benton-Lane, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Benton-Lane · Oregon › Willamette Valley › United States of America
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
88
/100
Reviews
55
professional
Vintages
No vintages
NV
Community Reviews
6161
Reviews
87.9
Avg Score
94
Highest
Taster #5212
· Oct 29, 2022
85/100
A decent 20 dollar bottle of grape juice. The pro reviews rated this much higher than I did and apparently, from what they wrote, they must have been drinking a different one that me. Some decent fruit on the mild side of medium and body was also on the lighter side of medium. I really wanted to like this more than I did. It did pair fairly well with smoked brisket so maybe there is hope for it in another …
2019 vintage
Taster #3576
· Aug 4, 2022
A little too dry
2019 vintage
Taster #7240
· May 24, 2022
92/100
Retail $30. Under DIAM10. While as a former philatelist, I absolutely love the postage stamp motif at Benton-Lane, I by no means allow that to cloud my judgment of the wines (although, if there were ever an *actual* postage stamp...). Perhaps darker than your average Willamette Valley Pinot (this comes from the Lower Long Tom AVA) it is incredibly fruit-rich on the nose. Dark, red berry fruit reign with blackberry and dark cherry the ticket takers. Add in spice (black …
2019 vintage
Taster #2202
· Feb 7, 2015
91/100
Nice cherry nose. Tart cherry on palatte and aftertaste, Deep color. WOndeful body. Had with seared tuna
2010 vintage
Taster #6632
· Feb 28, 2014
89/100
Not a shy pinot noir. No great depth (perhaps drinking in 2014 too early?) but nice complexity. Berry flavors. Beautiful ruby color, legs, and solid finish.
2010 vintage
Taster #8708
· Oct 16, 2013
The "heartbreak grape" is also so for value-seeking drinkers; I've rarely seen real pinot character for less than $30. Benton Lane's estate bottling is an exception. I've enjoyed three over several years, and it's just now starting to turn some of that copious fruit into secondary flavors, as well as throw a bit of sediment. In short, it's aging just like you'd expect a cork-finished wine to age, except it's a screwcap. Very Good+.
2006 vintage
Taster #7054
· Oct 11, 2013
89/100
Typical yet well done #OregonPinot with plenty of fruit upfront sour cherry
2010 vintage
Taster #9851
· Jul 6, 2013
89/100
Tasted by the glass with a Baked Salmon entree featured honey, Dijon and toasted almond crusted, maple-soy glaze, roasted asparagus and a choice of side dish - mashed roasted potatoes. The Pinot Noir 2010 was structured and bold enough to stand up to the sweet maple and forward soy glaze. Medium bodied, slightly opaque ruby colored, it presented red berry and strawberry fruits giving way to a layer of spice accented by smoke and pepper with hints of mocha on …
2010 vintage
Taster #5001
· Jun 5, 2013
90/100
Much fuller this time.
2010 vintage
Taster #6134
· Mar 7, 2013
86/100
Willamette Valley Wines presents: Pinot in the City (City Winery, Chicago, IL) : Nose: There are nice tones of dark red fruits, cherries, berries, and some oak tones. The tones are good, but they are lacking depth. Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium acidity. The tones of dark red fruits, cherries, and oak are balanced, but are lacking depth. Overall: This is more on the simple side. It is balanced and has nice tones, but doesn't have that much depth.
2010 vintage
Taster #3984
· Mar 4, 2013
90/100
Finding this for $17 is a dream. Light garnet color, the nose opened up better after an hour or two: cherries/ pie / spice. Similar on the palate with good length and depth. Great QPR.
2010 vintage
Taster #8208
· Mar 2, 2013
91/100
Loaded with berries up front and a tobacco finish. Very solid structure, good legs. Overall, very good wine for the price.
2010 vintage
Taster #5001
· Feb 27, 2013
84/100
A little disappointing - a bit on the thin side.
2010 vintage
Taster #3761
· Feb 23, 2013
Medium to light bodied. Easy drinking. I see no reason to age. Soft fruit flavors enjoyed by the grandmothers at the dinner table.
2010 vintage
Taster #4748
· Jan 31, 2013
88/100
Enjoyed this with friends over conversation. Nice fruit. Good balance. All around crowd pleaser, but not stealing the show.
2010 vintage
Taster #7890
· Jan 23, 2013
90/100
Spicy nose, that wonderful PN tartness ... just a delightful wine.
2010 vintage
Taster #6007
· Jan 21, 2013
92/100
Amazing subtle yet bold for the price amazing!!!
2010 vintage
Taster #1638
· Jan 15, 2013
88/100
Loads of raspberry and tart cherry on the nose, with a hint of freshly cut firewood. More of the same up front on the palate; medium-bodied, nice mouthfeel, decent finish, framed by a hint of foxiness. Fairly simple, but a decent value at $19.
2010 vintage
Taster #3925
· Dec 29, 2012
89/100
Opens up nicely and tasted better after breathing
2010 vintage
Taster #7890
· Dec 24, 2012
90/100
Just a great "go-to" Willamette PN ... glad it's always in stock at my local TJ's.
2010 vintage
Taster #7890
· Nov 25, 2012
90/100
I do believe I like this vintage even better than the '09 ... softer, mellower.
2010 vintage
Taster #2135
· Nov 18, 2012
Slightly tart cherry, slightly charred oak, spicy, resolving to licorice on the finish. On opening this exhibited some green flavors but they went away as the wine got air and warmed up a bit. Very nice.
2010 vintage
Taster #5050
· Oct 5, 2012
90/100
Excellent Pinot Noir. Smooth with cherry flavors.
2010 vintage
Taster #1830
· Sep 17, 2012
84/100
Light, tasteless and pointless. Oh well.
2010 vintage
Taster #2546
· Sep 13, 2012
91/100
Willamette Valley Producers visit San Francisco (Golden Gate Club in The Presidio, San Francisco, California) : Medium dark cherry red color; floral, tart cherry nose; floral, tart cherry palate; medium-plus finish (pH 3.77)
2010 vintage
Taster #8084
· Feb 26, 2012
89/100
By now it definitely had lost some of its structure. Yet, the wine was still quite fruit driven and delicious.
2006 vintage
Taster #0011
· Feb 1, 2012
87/100
Nose of raspberries, vanilla and a touch of cedar. Pretty standard, representative of a west coast pinot. Good fruit, bright acids, food friendly, and pleasant to drink.
2002 vintage
Taster #3971
· Jul 16, 2011
89/100
Medium red, strawberry/raspberry nose with hints of vanilla and spice, medium body with cherry flavours, baking spices and a touch of earth. Very ripe, almost sweet, backed up with good acidity that keeps everything in check. A bit of complexity could have pushed my score to 90.
2006 vintage
Taster #1283
· Nov 3, 2010
Pretty, light garnet in color. Stewed cherries on the nose, lasting all day long. Also, toasty vanilla, a little raspberry and some spice on the nose, as well. Palate corresponds well to the nose-- red fruit, spice, toast, a hint of vanilla. A bit of eucalyptus, and something slightly metallic on the finish. Reasonable QPR @ just under $20 (after discount). Especially enjoyed tasting in my new Riedel vinum series burgundy glass!
2006 vintage
Taster #0584
· Aug 5, 2010
89/100
Corks: Air Conditioning (Rossford, OH) : Smooth, but odd bubble gum notes. Some strawberry.
2006 vintage
Taster #6467
· May 28, 2010
86/100
Dark, slightly brambly fruit with a touch of pepper. I would have taken this for a southern Rhone style blend rather than a pinot noir, but it was tasty enough.
2006 vintage
Taster #9933
· Jan 2, 2010
82/100
Peculiar effervescence limits enjoyment of this otherwise-good Oregon Pinot Noir.
2006 vintage
Taster #7016
· Dec 18, 2009
88/100
Drinking good now with some dark fruit characteristics. A little funky in the finish but it still was a good wine.
2006 vintage
Taster #5713
· Nov 16, 2009
89/100
Nice light pinot - an easy drinker.
2006 vintage
Taster #2927
· Jun 7, 2009
89/100
Tastes from the medium fruit spectrum. Slightest hint/feel of fizz on the toungh.
2006 vintage
Taster #7017
· Jun 5, 2009
90/100
Nice light raspberry and strawberry nose. In the mouth, silky and good red fruits and hint of cola coming through. Lively. Has balance and nice finish.
2006 vintage
Taster #1612
· Apr 11, 2009
89/100
Still light and simple, but more there than last time. Nice daily drinker.
2006 vintage
Taster #1612
· Mar 21, 2009
88/100
Light and simple, but very plesant.
2006 vintage
Taster #7017
· Mar 21, 2009
90/100
This is a nice Pinot Noir. Hints of vanilla on the nose. Has good fruit of fresh raspberries, strawberries, and some cola and tea elements. Nice crisp acidity to keep the palate fresh, all in balance and delicious.
2006 vintage
Taster #6837
· Feb 24, 2009
86/100
Decent finish, nice but simple nose. Good daily drinker.
2006 vintage
Taster #6837
· Jan 29, 2009
87/100
Good, a little too acidic.
2006 vintage
Taster #8386
· Jan 20, 2009
88/100
was very pleasanlt suprised. meduim bodied, ripe cherry, with some herb and spice, not too oaky. acidity is perfect and fruit is pure. great value.
2006 vintage
Taster #1516
· Dec 31, 2008
87/100
Sensed some effervescence on the tip of my tongue. Slightly darker, richer fruit, and body than most PN's I drink. Didnt have that smooth, velvety mouthfeel that I search for in a PN. While this was enjoyable with dinner, it did not leave a lasting impression.
2006 vintage
Taster #6910
· Dec 25, 2008
87/100
One dimensional with blackcherry, and oak spice flavours. Light-to-medium bodied.
2006 vintage
Taster #6647
· Dec 21, 2008
88/100
some aging has helped this wine compared to a bottle I had a few years ago.......light bodied, cherry nose and a fruit with some spiciness.
2002 vintage
Taster #8581
· Oct 10, 2008
88/100
A good QPR pinot. Cherries and some odd pineapple on the nose. Medium color with some browning. Midweight, integrated tannins, medium length. Cherries, wood and licorice on the finish. Enjoyable in its simplicity, and with a little more heft than some other low priced pinots without the high octane manufacturedness of others.
2006 vintage
Taster #0318
· Oct 10, 2008
88/100
Chalky cherry with slight herb, vanilla & French perfume. Clean & earthy red fruit with good acid. Nice
2006 vintage
Taster #6837
· Oct 4, 2008
88/100
Nice
2006 vintage
Taster #1450
· Sep 16, 2008
85/100
Light bodied, but appealing for its restrained notes of wild strawberry, raspberry and forest floor.
2006 vintage
Taster #4161
· Sep 15, 2008
89/100
A great wine for the price and excellent value. A light to medium bodied Pinot, with flavors and aromas of red berries, strawberries, raspberries, cinnamon, and cedar. Was also picking up a hint of frizzante on the tongue. Enjoyed this style of Pinot, which was not overly rip, rich or syrupy. An excellent daily drinker, and will buy some more.
2006 vintage