Winemaker Notes
These Chardonnay vines were originally planted in 1973 with Clone 4 on its own roots in Block UU at the eastern edge of the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The grapes are hand-harvested grapes are gently whole-cluster pressed and fermented 100% in barrel, after which time the wine rests on its lees for 8 months. Malolactic fermentation is discouraged to help this wine retain its natural bright acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU has a ton of density and power. Racy and deep, the 2021 packs a serious punch. This mineral, savory Chardonnay has so much to offer, but it also needs time to come together. Citrus, orchard fruit and savory notes abound in this very serious Chardonnay from Foxen.
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Wine Enthusiast
A plump nose of yellow peach, pineapple fluff and sea salt is very inviting on the nose of this block-designated Chardonnay. There's a fantastic sizzle of acidity simmering on the palate, where lemon zest, crushed rocks and savory salts make for a great expression.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the Chardonnay, the 2021 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU offers a Chablis-like sense of minerality as well as beautiful aromatics of salted citrus, orange blossom, and white flowers. This medium-bodied, vibrant, focused Chardonnay is going to age gracefully for over a decade.
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Wine Spectator
Smoked butterscotch and peach cobbler notes are a welcoming introduction to the fresh citrus and mango core on a plump and juicy frame. The acidity is fresh and bright, with details of orange blossoms, ginger and vanilla paste that linger on the finish. Drink now. 1,169 cases made.
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.