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2021 Foxen Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 43 Pinot Noir

Removed from a professional wine storage facility; Purchased direct from a distributor

2 available
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Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

96Wine Enthusiast

Black cherry, cola and vanilla-cream flavors draw the nose deeply into this special block-designated bottling from a historic site. A firm texture and sizzling acidity provide a textural backdrop to the ripe flavors of red fruit and red flowers, with a pinch of mace adding spice. The finish goes deep.

95Jeb Dunnuck

Ripe black raspberries, tart cherries, spring flowers, violets, and a hint of leather...has a focused, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a terrific sense of purity, precision, and length.

93The Wine Advocate

Black cherry, dark chocolate and floral accents lead to a rich, svelte, softly textured palate lined with a subtle spine of acidity that adds a balancing lift...finish is focused and grippy, framed with fine-grained, well-delineated tannins...

93+ Vinous / IWC

Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, rose petal and lavender are nicely delineated.

92Wine Spectator

Plump and juicy in feel, with loganberry and mulberry notes framed by light chalky threads, this red is backed by hints of anise and singed balsam wood on the finish.

PRODUCER

Foxen

Foxen was founded in the Santa Maria Valley, in Santa Barbara County, in 1985 when Bill Wathen and Richard Dore started making wine. The winery was named after Dore’s great-great grandfather, William Benjamin Foxen, a sea captain who arrived in Santa Barbara in the early 19th century and purchased the property where the winery now stands. Foxen owns 10 acres of vineyards and makes small amounts of Bordeaux blends, Rhone blends, Italian-inspired reds and whites, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

REGION

United States, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County, Santa Maria Valley

Santa Barbara County is not an AVA, but a region just south of San Luis Obispo that includes the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley appellations. Wine has been produced in the area since the 18th century when Spanish missionaries planted vineyards. It wasn’t until the 1990s, however, that producers focused on growing premier grapes for fine wines. During the 1990s more than 10,000 acres of vineyards were planted, and today there are nearly 20,000 acres of vineyards. The region received a big bump in recognition and prestige when the popular film “Sideways” was shot there in 2004. Because the region is affected by maritime weather, it is relatively cool climate makes it ideal for Chardonnay. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and an increasingly adventuresome number of varietals are also grown successfully in Santa Barbara County.

TYPE

Red Wine, Pinot Noir

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.

VINTAGE

2021 Foxen Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 43 Pinot Noir