One of the vibrant wine projects in Paso Robles, Benom focuses on a range of red wines, as well as a killer white and rose, that show great poise and depth from this warm region. Benom Wines was founded by two Frenchmen, Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre. Benom is named after the phonetic translation of the French word binôme, which translates to "a project together." They are brothers, they are French, and for them making wine is a heritage. Guillaume, moved to California to pursue a career as a winemaker, and began making wine for one of the great brands of Paso Robles, L’Aventure. He then started Clos Selene which was met with serious critical acclaim. it was his love of winemaking and farming without limit(s) that brought him to Paso Robles. Arnaud, on the other hand, moved to California to follow his beloved Chloe.
Their wines are even named after each other, two brothers -‘Les Deux Freres,’ which is an intense blend made from Grenache, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Fabre family originates from both the Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux regions in France, as the brothers have a longstanding family history in the wine industry. I was enamored by the new wines by Benom. Their new 2021 Benom ‘Contrast’ White Wine (OB, 93) is a stunning blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. This oozes texture and has a wonderful mineral backbone as I am not sure you will find anything quite like this in North America! Do not sleep on the sinfully good and very novel 2020 Benom ‘Les Deux Freres’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is dense, chewy, and very bold, showing earthy accents from the Tempranillo. Check out more about this outstanding winery project at https://www.benomwines.com and here are my reviews of the beautiful new wines by Benom.
2021 Benom ‘Contrast’ White Wine- A very unusual blend for the region of 76% Chardonnay with the remainder Sauvignon Blanc, the 2021 ‘Contrast’ comes from the Santa Maria, Edna Valley, Adelaida AVAs. Stored for six months in a small portion of new French oak (30%) this unveils freshly cut grass with cantaloupe and pastry crust aromatics. The palate is very fresh and beautifully textured with a downright killer combination of weight and finesse. Finishing very long, enjoy this truly novel, outstanding white wine over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2029- 93
2021 Benom ‘L’Essor’ Rose- The 2021 ‘L’Essor’ is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache that was sourced from the John Wolf, Coakley, and Gateway Vineyards. Stored in stainless steel before bottling, this very Provence-colored Rose unveils delicate honeydew melon and green papaya notes alongside white rose and pomegranate seed tones. Soft and inviting on the mouth, this shows both a great veil of tension and light dusting of salinity that adds to the enjoyment. This is highly refined and gratifying Rose that is best consumed now and over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 92
2020 Benom ‘Origin’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon bottling is a sensational new release from this somewhat challenging vintage. An inky core greets you, with chocolate covered coffee bean, black currants, creosote and very refined tannins. The underlying freshness is fantastic, as is the weight, as this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95
2020 Benom ‘Les Deux Freres’ Red Wine- The 2020 Benom ‘Les Deux Freres’ Red Wine is a compelling blend of Grenache (54%) with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. Very pretty red rose petals combine with dark currants and suggestions of baking spices. The palate is silky smooth and beautifully textured, with a great combination of weight and underly finesse, with earthy accents. Drink this beauty now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2022-2037- 94
2020 Benom ‘Lapsus’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Lapsus’ is a great blend of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Graciano with the reminder Mourvèdre and Syrah. The beautiful black florals mark the nose with black tea and wild blackberries. The palate is soft and inviting with good richness and a soft mouthfeel. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94