Stunning Single-Vineyard Finds Under $30 -- Boutique Chardonnay & Pinot Noir

2023 Benmar "Sand Dune" Dundee Hills Chardonnay (Elsewhere $55) $19.95

94 points Decanter: "The fruit for this Oregon Chardonnay is sourced from a 6.5-hectare site located approximately 1.5 km from Lange and Alexana, where vines are rooted in the renowned Jory soils of the Dundee Hills AVA. This wine exudes the unmistakable character of a Pacific Northwest Chardonnay, marked by its clean, bright, and vivid elegance, paired with pure fruit expression that captures energy and tension. Aromatics are infused with the freshness of grapes growing in the cool air of nearby conifer forests and bubbling springs, showcasing lime and lemon pith, white flowers, orange oil, and Marcona almond notes, all of which build weight and luxurious textures on the medium-bodied palate, supported by grippy acidity and mineral tension that stretches through the long, lingering finish. Aged for 14 months in 20% new French oak, the wine's pure fruit and mineral-driven character are beautifully preserved."

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 12, 2025

Oregon's little secret... that really isn't much of a secret... is the quality of the Chardonnay! Though the Willamette Valley is most famously associated with Pinot Noir, the Chardonnay wines from the region are every bit as exciting and nuanced. This brisk, fresh take on the varietal comes from a small vineyard in the Dundee Hills. The fruit is fermented partly in French oak barrels, 20% new, and partially in stainless steel. The two components are then woven back together to capture the perfect amount of textural depth and richness but also bright, crisp, racy acidity and floral top notes. I love this style—it's quite reminiscent of Chablis with its white floral tones, stony mineral tension, crunchy orchard fruit, and preserved lemon tang in the mouthwatering finish. Incredibly refreshing, versatile, and easy to drink. The value here, as with all the Benmar wines, is simply astounding!

Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 10, 2025

Soft white flowers eagerly give way to ripe green apples and Lemonheads with just touches of oak. The palate is crisp and juicy but still retains some nice depth and richness. There's a racy minerality winding through the palate, ending in river rocks on the finish. The fruit is clean with quince, Asian pear, and pithy lemon eventually giving way to the slight toast on the finish. An excellent wine and a great example of Chardonnay that is fresh and crisp but still has a sense of gravitas. What a treat to be able to offer it at this price.

2022 Benmar "Springbok" Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $50) $19.95

94 points Decanter: "A lucid ruby-purple hue in the glass. Delicate cranberry and pomegranate fruit aromas and apple skin mingle with earth, sandalwood, and brown baking spices. Medium-bodied with a fantastic core of dark, juicy cherry fruit intermixing with cola and smoky clove. Very fine-grained tannins are almost powdery from upstart winemaker Greg Bybee. (JC)" (07/2024)

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 07, 2024

Benmar is a very small winery in Oregon owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Greg and Jen Bybee. Greg has many years of experience in the wine business, including learning his craft at the esteemed Rochioli Vineyards in Russian River Valley. I first met Greg when he was selling another portfolio of wines to me at K&L before being introduced to his own side project that was just being launched.

Jen is a very talented photographer, and all the Benmar labels are striking images that she captured in the Pacific Northwest. Inside the bottle, Greg captured the very essence of Oregon PN. Most of the fruit comes from the renowned Hirschy Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton. This site has long been a single-vineyard designate for the iconic winery Ken Wright. The vines grow in ancient marine sedimentary soils at around 500 ft elevation. The wine has a lovely balance of dusty minerals, lifted bright fruit, forest berries, wild herbs, leaf litter, and hints of alpine amaro.

It's medium-bodied, quite elegant, very approachable, and expressive. Right from the first releases, Greg and Jen have been getting glowing reviews for their wines from critics, and this is certainly a young producer to watch as the buzz grows louder and louder. But... for now at least, you can enjoy this stellar Pinot at some very special Insider Advantage pricing that makes this boutique bottling pretty irresistible! 

2023 Benmar "Alpine Lakes" Dundee Hills Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $75) $24.95

96 points Decanter: "This Pinot Noir originates from a 6.5-hectare site in the Dundee Hills AVA, where vines are rooted in the region's famous Jory soils. Aged for 15 months in 30% new French oak, this wine exudes freshness and clarity reminiscent of the Alpine lake depicted on its label. Juicy pomegranate seeds, cherry-raspberry leather, and sandalwood dominate the medium-bodied palate, framed by superfine tannins and a clean acid cut. Subtle hints of pine forest and cacao bean emerge on the long, elegant finish. The grapes were destemmed, underwent a 72-hour cold soak, and were treated with pump-overs and punch-downs before being pressed and settled for eight days. A 10-month élevage was followed by barrel-to-barrel racking for an additional five months."

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 12, 2025

A single-vineyard wine from Benmar that came from Greg pouncing on an opportunity to buy a small parcel of some exceptional fruit. L’Angolo Estate is a small planting on the northern side of the Dundee Hills. This perfectly sloped, east-facing site is a mixture of Jory soils and very rocky Nekia volcanic rock series. The vineyard is planted to four clones of Pinot Noir and is meticulously farmed using only organic practices. The Alpine Lakes bottling shows a little more brooding minerality and stony elements versus the more red-fruited, sous bois-driven *Into the Fog* bottling. Dark cherry, black raspberry, anise, crushed rock, and ferrous notes. Long and complex on the palate—layered, serious Pinot Noir that really pulls you in one sip at a time until you're utterly entranced. Incredible value at our Insider's Advantage price, but limited availability due to the very small production.

Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 10, 2025

Right out of a freshly opened bottle, there is a heavy fog of toast that lingers for only a moment before blowing off and leaving behind only a lingering touch of tobacco and deep, dark fruit. There are stewed cherries, raspberries, crushed rose petals, and a single coffee bean deep down in the very back. The palate is ripe and full, with juicy red and black cherries and cranberry sauce, with the toast coming back on the finish. Despite the lower price tag, this is a serious and brooding Pinot Noir and masterfully made to boot.

Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 08, 2025

A super solid Pinot Noir in a series from this winery. Quite dark, with deep red and black cherry fruit accompanied by tart tannins and lighter minerals. There are also notes of black raspberries and spicy woody elements. One of the most solid Pinot Noirs from Oregon that I've had since the beginning of the year.

2023 Benmar "Into the Fog" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $45) $29.95

96 points Decanter: "Dark Bing cherry and raspberry fruit, with notes of deep forest underbrush, conifer, rose petals, and sweet loamy earth. Medium to full-bodied, featuring apple-skin tannins and crunchy pomegranate nuances, smoky clove, allspice, star anise, and pressed violets. Expressive, with a balanced tension and purity of flavors—indeed a remarkable wine for only its second vintage by winemaker Greg Bybee. Named after his children, Bennett and Marecca, his wife, Jen, captured the front-label image. The grapes are sourced from an organically farmed vineyard near the NYSA Vineyard in Dundee Hills and Catral Vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills. They are fully destemmed, followed by a 72-hour cold soak with pump-overs and punch-downs, pressed and settled for eight days before being transferred to the barrel. The wine undergoes a 10-month élevage, followed by barrel-to-barrel racking for an additional six months of élevage. (JC)" (10/2024)

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 12, 2025

This small, boutique producer in Oregon continues to impress with a range of incredible wines from top-notch vineyard sources at extremely reasonable prices! I first met Greg (owner/winemaker) when he was selling me Napa wines in his day job as a salesperson. After working together for a while, he told me he had started his own label, Benmar (a portmanteau of his two children's names). I was immediately taken by the quality of the wines, and working winery-direct, we struck up some fantastic pricing, too! The 2023 is the second release of the core wine—*Into the Fog*. 85% of this wine comes from a highly renowned vineyard in the heart of the Dundee Hills that cannot be named due to an NDA. The vineyard is farmed organically and biodynamically, with deep red volcanic loam known as the Jory series. The remaining portion of the blend comes from an old vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills. The section Greg takes is **Wädenswil clone** planted on its own roots in 1990. This cool-climate Swiss clone adds a wonderful savory, underbrush component to the wine, complementing the more robust, dark red fruits and woodsy spices from the Dundee Hills fruit. The wine speaks of forest floor, red berries, raspberry compote, dried floral elements, alpine herbs, and bramble. Silky yet taut on the palate, it expresses bright, youthful, high-toned fruit but is certainly not fully unwound yet. I think this wine will blossom even more vibrantly over the next 1-2 years and will age comfortably for 8-10 years beyond that. A very special deal in handcrafted Oregon Pinot.

Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 10, 2025

Soft and creamy fruit on the nose with touches of oak vanillin. Raspberry preserves, light pomegranate, and spiced cranberry are accompanied by just a few drops of rosewater. The palate is lush, with high-toned and creamy fruit that secretly wants to be a little crunchier than it is. Pie cherries, juicy cranberry, and pomegranate pith round it all out. This is delicious and incredibly approachable—just sitting around letting it slowly evolve in the glass as you nurse it sip after sip would be a heck of a fun way to spend an evening with a fellow wine lover. Let the wine’s evolution guide your conversation and just live in that moment.