Cohn Vineyard
This vineyard (not to be confused with the Cohn Vineyard at BR Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen) was originally
planted by Enid Sales, an architectural historian, preservationist and contractor renowned for restoring
Victorian homes in San Francisco, and her partner in 1970. They chose the unlikely pairing of Pinot Noir and
Zinfandel since that is what they liked to drink. 6.19 acres were planted on a rocky hillside to a massale
selection of Pinot Noir, likely Martini and Pommard on St. George rootstock with 11’ x 9’ spacing, and 3.66
acres of Zinfandel.
The second owners of the vineyard were Arne and Tekla Cohn of Berkeley, California, who acquired the
property in the early 1980s, lent the vineyard its name, and planted an additional 5.11 acres of Zinfandel in
1986. They established the vineyard’s reputation for producing exceptional fruit.
Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane, proprietors of Benovia Winery, acquired the Cohn Vineyard in 2002 and
planted an additional 2.64 acres of Pinot Noir in 2009. Today, Benovia Winery farms about 9 acres of Pinot Noir
and 8.7 acres of Zinfandel.
The vineyard is part of a 55-acre ranch on a beautiful site at 700 feet elevation, framed by redwood forests,
with expansive views of the Russian River Valley below. Located in the far northwestern corner of the Russian
River Valley and technically not in the Russian River Valley AVA, the vineyard has always been dry farmed and
was difficult to establish because of the lack of water. The vines struggle to produce in a low vigor, iron-rich soil
of clay loam, known as ‘Terra Rosa” for its intense red color, mixed with cobblestones and quartz (see photo
below). Yields average a meager 1.0 to 1.5 tons per acre.
For about five years, the Cohns sold grapes to Hop Kiln Winery. The first Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir bottling that
Benovia Winery winemaker Michael Sullivan is aware of was the 1981 Hop Kiln Winery Russian River Valley
Pinot Noir, but it was not vineyard designated. Subsequently, winemaker Burt Williams, who was friends with
the winemaker at Hop Kiln Winery, became aware of Cohn Vineyard. Burt waited until the contract with Hop
Kiln Winery expired, and began to source grapes from Cohn Vineyard beginning in 1987. The vineyard’s
grapes were usually blended into the Russian River Valley and Sonoma County bottlings at Williams Selyem,
but a vineyard-designated Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir was produced in 1988 and 1993. Burt dropped the
vineyard in 1995 when owner Arne Cohn put in drip irrigation and over watered the vineyard.
Mary Brogan, Burt Williams’ daughter, sourced grapes from Cohn Vineyard in 2004, 2005 and 2006, vineyard
designating the 2004 wine and blending it into her Russian River Valley blend the other two vintages.
A little-known bit of trivia is that Kosta Browne made its first commercial Pinot Noir from Cohn Vineyard in 2000.
While working at Deerfield Ranch Winery in Sonoma Valley, Michael Browne, working with winemaker Robert
Rex, was also involved in the production of a Deerfield Ranch Winery Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir from 2000 to
2002. The Cohn Vineyard grapes were sourced through John Ferrington who worked with Williams Selyem
until 1997. He also made some Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir in 2000, but tragically committed suicide in 2001.
With the blessings of John’s parents, Michael Browne and Dan Kosta split the grapes from Cohn Vineyard with
Deerfield Ranch Winery in the 2002 vintage. Kosta Browne also made a vineyard-designated Cohn Vineyard
Pinot Noir in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2012, and 2013. In 2006, the Cohn Vineyard grapes were included in the Kosta
Browne Russian River Valley appellation blend.
The vineyard was extensively rehabilitated after acquisition and organically farmed since 2009 under the
direction of Benovia Winery’s winemaker Michael Sullivan (photo below)
Thursday afternoon Michael Sullivan took us on a tour of Cohn Vineyard where the vistas are breathtaking.
Michael Sullivan hosted the group for lunch at Bistro Ralph in Healdsburg, a superb French bistro that is a
hangout for many winemakers.
Lunch wines:
2012 Benovia La Pommeraie Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.5% alc., 350 cases, $48. Sourced from
George Martinelli Vineyard (Zio Tony) located at the edge of the Green Valley AVA. The vineyard is planted at
a very high density of 2420 vines per acre to Dijon clones 548 and 95. The site was once an apple orchard, so
Benovia pays homage to the Martinelli family and the history of the site by naming the wine ‘La Poommeraie’ -
French for apple orchard. Indigenous yeast fermentation, 100% malolactic fermentation, and aged sur lie for 16
months in 40% new French oak barrel.
·
Light golden straw color in the glass. The perfume of pear, caramel
and toffee leads to a rich, full, smooth palate of lemon curd, pear and spice flavors. A luscious Russian River
Valley style Chardonnay that offers plenty of pleasure.
Score: 91
2009 Benovia Cohn Vineyard Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $62. Previously reviewed very
favorably July 23, 2011, and January 11, 2012.
·
The wine is aging nicely, offering mid weight, sappy flavors of
earthy dark plum and dark berry fruit with exotic spices, melded tannins, and a persistent finish.
Score: 90
2013 Benovia Cohn Vineyard Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., unreleased.
·
Moderately light cherry
red color in the glass. Lovely perfume of cherries, cake spice, sandalwood and smoky oak. Modestly light in
weight in this vintage with a core of red cherry fruit accented with cola, spice, and oak seasoning. Soft and
silky on the palate, with modest tannins and some finishing length. When tasted the following day from a
previously opened and re-corked bottle, the nose had really come alive with vibrant cherry and spice aromas.
There is noticeable smoky oak on the finish which may or may not appeal depending on your preferences.
Score: 90-91
2013 Benovia Tilton Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., unreleased.
·
Moderately light
garnet color in the glass. Darker red and purple fruits are featured on the nose and palate, with hints of sage
and other dried herbs, spice, and noticeable oak overlay. Modest in weight in this vintage, with suave tannins
and some intensity on the mineral-laden finish. Again, your enjoyment of this wine will be predicated on your
preference for oak infusion.
Score: 90-91
Note: There is a striking difference in the extraction of the 2013 Cohn and Tilton Hill Pinot Noirs compared to
the bombastic 2012 wines. The 2013 wines are less structured and sappy, but have more finesse, interesting savory
notes, redder fruits, and more oak overlay. The wines are still very young, and I look forward to tasting them
again in 6 months or so.
