Bien Nacido Estate Pinot Noir 2013
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Enthusiast
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Parker
Robert
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Wine Enthusiast
The spicy and earthy nose on this sprightly bottling from the iconic vineyard is superb: pressed mulberry, beet and rhubarb aromas lifted by thyme, star anise and bay leaf. The palate is slightly mellower, with rounded pomegranate and cherry notes cut by pine needle-like spice.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Leading off the reds, the 2013 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard offers lots of mushroom, smoked meats, earthy, forest floor characteristics on the nose, but shows a lot more fruit and richness on the palate. Medium-bodied, deeply colored and nicely textured, this rock solid Pinot Noir was fermented with 20% whole clusters and spent 18 months in 33% new French oak. Drink bottles through 2023.
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In 1969, brothers Bob & Steve Miller, the fourth generation of a Central Coast California farming family, found a piece of land they instantly knew had vineyard potential. Formerly used for grazing, it was part of one of the earliest Spanish land grants. However, the shale soil and unique climate from the transverse mountain range provided a lens into its potential.
The vineyard was planted in 1973. Bob and Steve called it Bien Nacido, meaning “well born” in Spanish, because of the passion and commitment they shared in bringing it to life.
All the wines are naturally fermented, with no sulfur additions until after malolactic has completed. The wines are never filtered or fined, and only the selections which represent the best expressions make it into the bottles.
The original adobe on the property remains as one of the few privately maintained adobes in California.
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.