Mike Sullivan is a fifth-generation Californian who grew up in Sonoma County and started working at Chateau St. Jean at the age of 18. While pursuing his enology degree at Fresno State, Mike also spent his summers farming at Four Brothers, his family’s vineyard. Soon thereafter, Mike served as assistant winemaker under the legendary Helen Turley at Landmark Vineyards, and then at Chappellet. Mike garnered numerous honors—including recognition by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate as “Wine Personality of the Year”—as head winemaker at Hartford Family Winery before partnering with Proprietors Mary Dewane and Joe Anderson to found Benovia in 2005.

The 2020 Benovia La Pommeraie Chardonnay is a rich, complex, and opulent white wine. From the opening, the medium yellow color with glistening straw hues and the vibrancy of the aromas indicate that you are in for a fun ride. The aromatics are classic Russian River; lemon, honeydew melon, Honey Crisp apple, candied ginger, and notes of stone minerality. The palate has layers of flavor, texture, and a buttery core in the middle adding weight, and richness that is delicious. It carries through to a complex finish. Mike Sullivan and the Winemaking Team from Benovia have produced a Chardonnay that has great quality, extraordinary complexity and is built to age 10+ years.

By Perry Miroballi