Winemaker Notes
Classically Bien Nacido, with aromas of straw and chamomile interspersed with wet stone and lemon peel. Beautiful mineral notes balance out fresh fruit and tropical flowers on the palate. This wine has the characteristically firm structure of the 2022 vintage combined with the richness and viscosity that ties it all together.
Professional Ratings
-
Tasting Panel
This wine from one of the most noteworthy names in our industry is rich and complex, with a well-rounded mouthfeel and notes of ripe apple, pear, and pineapple as well as buttery, freshly baked bread.
-
Decanter
Sourced from old vines nestled under the shade of majestic oak trees, this Chardonnay beautifully reflects its heritage and terroir. Classic and refined, it balances purity and power with bright acidity, subtle toast, and a touch of creaminess. Crisp apple, lemon, and soft herbal notes unfold over a long, elegant finish.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
More pure stone fruits, golden apple, spicy wood, and brioche notes emerge from the 2022 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Estate, another 2022 that's ripe, upfront, and fleshy, with a soft yet balanced and delicious style. It picks up some classic Bien Nacido marine-like nuances with time in the glass, and it's perfect for drinking over the coming 4-6 years.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Exclusively the produce of the own-rooted "I" and "L" blocks planted in 1973, the 2022 Chardonnay Estate is a beautiful representation of this storied vineyard. The nose is a pleasing combination of ripe, polished orchard fruit aromas lifted by floating, tangy citrus rind and dried white flower touches. On the palate, it is again round and supple, showing the gentle ripeness of the vintage while maintaining a clean, clear focus through the finish.
-
Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay Estate Bien Nacido Vineyard is creamy, open-knit and expansive. Light tropical accents lead into a core of apricot, tangerine peel, spice, yellow flowers and chamomile. Soft contours wrap it all together. The 2022 spent twelve months in French oak (40% new), followed by four months in tank.
-
Wine Spectator
A zesty mix of lemon, apple and pineapple flavors are generous and juicy at the core, with accents of candied ginger, lemongrass, pear and lime zest on a sleek and mouthwatering frame. Drink now. 2,616 cases made.
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.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A lesser-known but elite AVA within the larger Santa Barbara district, the Santa Maria Valley AVA runs precisely west to east starting near the coast. The valley funnels cool, Pacific Ocean air to the vineyards more inland, allowing grapes a longer hang time to ripen evenly and achieve their full potential by harvest time. Combined with minimal rainfall, consistent warm sunshine, and well-drained soils, it is an ideal environment for grape growing.
Many of the wineries here are small and highly respected, having established a reputation in the 1970s and 80s for producing excellent Central Coast wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. More recently, Syrah has also proven quite successful in the region. Many vineyards are owned by growers who sell their grapes to other wineries, so it is common to see the same vineyard name on bottlings from different wineries. Bien Nacido Vineyard is perhaps the best-known and most prestigious.