$15.99 at Crush Wine & Spirits in Bryant, Arkansas (AR)
92 points – Tasting Panel
Almost entirely Pinot Noir with a small proportion of Petit Verdot added for color and body. Aged four months in French oak with 20% new oak.
Rich strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors. Oak notes with soft and smooth tannins.
Imagery Estate was created in 1984 when Joe Benziger and Sonoma County artist Bob Nugent met while they were helping to break up a fight at a wine tasting. Benziger, who came from the winemaking family that created Sonoma County’s Glen Ellen and Benziger Family Winery, wanted to combine his desire to feature grapes that were often overlooked in California like Petit Verdot, Malbec, Tempranillo, and Lagrein and to bottle them with labels featuring unique artwork from some of the world’s most notable contemporary artists. The winery’s tasting room has one of the largest wine label art collections.
Today the winery is run by Joe’s daughter, Jamie Benziger who took over in 2017. Jamie realized at an early age that she wanted to be involved with the family wine business. While studying marketing at Loyola Marymount University, she decided to transfer closer to home at Sonoma State University to complete her marketing degree and added wine business classes to her studies. She gained hands-on experience in marketing as well as winemaking at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Benziger, St. Francis, and Bogle. She then traveled to New Zealand to work at Villa Maria and Enterprise Vineyards. She returned to Sonoma in 2015 to work alongside her father.