Winemaker Notes
Classic Bien Nacido Pinot Noir aromas of cardamom, clove buds, dried brush and black cherry mingle with young wine characters like bubblegum and red licorice. Concentrated on the palate with suave tannins, balanced acidity and a clean long finish. Open this immediately and know the sweetness of the fruit will stay around for decades.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the reds, the 2019 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido reveals a deeper ruby, almost opaque hue as well as a killer bouquet of mulled red and black currants, briny herbs, pepper, and wildflowers. It picks up more salinity and crushed stone-like minerality with time in the glass and is medium to full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with no hard edges and a great, great finish. This pure, ethereal beauty is a “Wow” Pinot Noir as well as one of my favorites in the vintage.
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Tasting Panel
In a stellar vintage, this world-class site creates a world-class wine for its owners, the Miller family. Cinnamon and black cherry are prominent scents that also decorate the palate. Baking spices and brush spread across a layer of rhubarb, cherry, orange peel, and sweet tobacco before light red-tea tannins are joined by salinity on the finish. Aged 16 months in (50% new) French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered, the wine shows magnificently now and will no doubt be among the classics of the next decade.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made with about 12% whole clusters, the 2019 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard is ultra perfumed, with scents of graphite-laced black cherries, orange peel, wood-smoke and bergamot. The medium-bodied palate is gently chalky and very fresh, with energetic, earth-laced fruits and a long, uplifted finish.
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Wine Spectator
Fruit-forward and rich-tasting, with a refined mix of well-knit red currant, damson plum and pomegranate flavors. This has minerally zest on the finish, with underbrush and beef carpaccio accents. Drink now.
Bien Nacido Vineyard, one of Santa Maria Valley’s first and most renowned cool-climate vineyards, has been a celebrated source of world-class grapes and estate wines since its founding by 4th generation farming brothers Bob and Steve Miller. The vineyard’s name, meaning "Well Born" in Spanish, reflects its deep historical roots, having been planted on the historic Rancho Tepusquet land grant. The Miller’s planted the first 300 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 1973, capitalizing on the region's unique geography, climate, and meticulously farmed, sustainable vineyards. These ideal conditions have made Bien Nacido Estate Vineyards synonymous with distinctive and expressive wines.
Widely acclaimed, Bien Nacido has been recognized as one of the top 20 terroirs in the world by Wine Spectator and named by Wine Enthusiast as one of the 10 vineyards behind the world’s most famous wines. Known for its cool-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, the vineyard continues to thrive thanks to its remarkable terroir and a dedicated team that upholds its legacy of excellence with each passing vintage.
Looking ahead, the fifth generation of the Miller family is carrying this legacy forward, shaping the future of Bien Nacido with the same passion and commitment to quality. In 2005, they introduced the Bien Nacido Estate brand—a true reflection of their enduring dedication to farming and winemaking at this world-renowned vineyard. Each vintage is an opportunity to showcase the vineyard’s unique identity, offering a pure expression of the land that has defined Bien Nacido for generations.
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.