Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2020 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard is an attractive, ethereal wine. Rose petal, mint, sweet red cherry, spice and blood orange all lift from the glass. This is a pretty restrained expression of Bien Nacido. A dollop (25%) of whole clusters adds gorgeous savory presence throughout.
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Wine Enthusiast
Stewed cherry and smoky mesquite aromas swirl into an inviting nose on this bottling from a historic vineyard. The palate is very cohesive and well integrated, from the grippy structure and brisk acidity to the smoked cherry, white pepper, crumpled sage, oregano and incense flavors.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Last of the Pinot Noirs I was able to taste, the 2020 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard is another translucent ruby/plum-hued release that has lots to love. Ripe cherries, mulberries, peppery herb, and scorched earth notes define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with some classic Bien Nacido structure and tannins, offering medium-bodied richness, outstanding balance, and a great finish. It's another release that will benefit from a year in bottle.
Rating:92+ -
Wine & Spirits
This extracted pinot starts out spicy, with scents of cinnamon and sea wrack, black cherry and high-toned berry. The flavors are rich and powerful, full-bore plum fruit, the wine needing bottle age to lose its baby fat.
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.