Benevolent Neglect Massa Vineyard Red Wine Carmel Valley 2019

Benevolent Neglect was founded in 2013 by two East Coast transplants. If foggy memory serves, Ben Brenner and Matt Nagy met at a house party where they allegedly were both wearing Boston Red Sox hats. They connected over their Boston accents and favorite local pubs, and the friendship formed fast. Both men were, at the time, working on opposite sides of the industry. Matt made wines for Thomas Rivers Brown, and Ben was a sommelier. Many long nights over countless bottles of wine are to blame for the inception of the child they never knew they wanted or needed – Benevolent Neglect. In their 10th harvest, Benevolent Neglect is among only a handful of small local brands that have stood the test of time. Keeping a wine brand afloat often takes quite a bit of capital. But Ben and Matt have boot-strapped this business from day one, and today, they proudly produce about 2,000 cases of wine a year and run a very popular tasting room in downtown Napa. It is a success story worth celebrating.

Ben and Matt love to bicker over many things, but there is no denying that they see eye to eye on winemaking. Their mission is to produce wines with as little intervention as possible. In their words, "The idea of the winemaker is to be the reliable translator – to take what was made in the vineyard from the sun, water, and soil and let it become the finest wine that it can be." They poke fun at their holistic approach in their name – benevolent, meaning "kind," and neglect, meaning "failure to care for properly." So essentially, they are saying that they thoughtfully ignore their wines. If neglect tastes this good, we won't judge!

Their latest release hails from the Massa Vineyard, which was integral to the growth of the Carmel Valley AVA after the region's accreditation in the early 90s. Massa (previously Heller Estate and Durney Vineyards) pioneered organic grape growing when few properties laid stock in these practices. The vineyards were certified organic in the early 1980s, and each steward has continued the efforts of the last by instituting methods such as pesticide/herbicide-free pest management, composting with leftover organic matter from harvest, and planting cover crops for habitat maintenance and weed management. Like Ben and Matt's winemaking, Massa Vineyard employs thoughtful practices highlighting the terroir's natural ability to grow impressive grapes without overuse of chemicals or mechanical interventions.

For this Bordeaux-esque blend, they have combined 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot from Massa Vineyard. As an ode to the traditional blend, Ben and Matt selected neutral French oak for aging and kept the alcohol percentage lower, intending to let the terroir and vintage shine. The Merlot brings beautifully vibrant red fruit aromas like raspberry, blackberry, and plum. The fine-grained tannins are lush on the palate, and subtle hints of baking spice and savory herbs show off the Cabernet, which lingers through a long finish. The 2019 Massa Red Blend is ready to drink, easy to pair, and hits the spot when all you're craving is a rich red wine.