Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesGrace, fluidity, and texture take this Pinot Noir, aged 16 months in (30% new) French oak, to great heights. Fragrances of earth and dried leaves, red plum, ginger, and roasted coffee emanate from the glass. White-peppered rose petals and cherries seasoned with thyme and oregano head into a juicy whirlpool with Old World acidity. Spiced oak joins balsamic and tobacco leaf on the finish.
There’s a reason the cool-climate Bien Nacido Vineyard is world renowned. Grace, fluidity, texture, aromatics, and a connection to the soil on both nose and palate take this Pinot Noir, which is aged 16 months in (30% new) French oak, to great heights. Fragrances of earth, dried leaves, and red plum with a hint of ginger and roasted coffee emanate from the glass. White-peppered rose petals join cherries seasoned with thyme and oregano to head into a juicy whirlpool marked by Old World acidity. Spiced oak influences a finish of balsamic and tobacco leaf.
Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley has a spicy, complex bouquet of redcurrants, mulberries, autumn leaves, iodine, and underbrush. With beautiful balance, medium to full body and a great finish, it's a gorgeous Pinot Noir from this estate to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.
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.