Winemaker Notes
Aromas of black cherry, rose petal, red pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, forest floor, earth and red currant. Flavors of black cherry, cranberry, dusty tannin, earthy, vanilla, clove and nutmeg.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Spicy aromas of star anise, incense and dark, ripe strawberry show on the nose of this bottling from a historic vineyard. It’s voluptuous on the palate, loaded with creamy cherry and strawberry flavors, as mace spice, a biting acidity and taut texture carry it toward the finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard just about jumps from the glass with its intense nose of spiced cherries, mulberries, salted chocolate, and roasted herb-like aromas and flavors. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has good acidity, ripe tannins, and the balance to keep for 5-7 years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Fess Parker Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir shows up to play. TASTING NOTES: This wine sports lovely and appealing aromas and flavors of black fruit and licorice. Try it with Korean grilled beef. (Tasted: April 14, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
Established in 1989, Fess Parker Winery is a multi-generational family owned and operated winery that has a rich heritage in Santa Barbara County. Fess Parker produces premium, small-lot, vineyard designated Burgundian varietals from the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley as well as Rhône varietals from their organically farmed, SIP Certified estate vineyard.
Outstanding fruit sources, including some of the finest vineyards in the county, coupled with skilled winemaking, led by Blair Fox, form the foundation for the winery’s success. Now three generations in, the Fess Parker Family is proud to carry on Fess’s legacy of wine heritage and hospitality in Santa Barbara.
Fess Parker Winery was proud to be named a Top 100 Winery in the World by Wine & Spirits Magazine in both 2022 and 2023.
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.