93 Points (Cellar Selection) - Wine Enthusiast
91 Points - RP
90 Points - Steven Tanzer
90 Points - Burghound.com
We have had a great response every time we have offered a wine from Santa Barbara County’s Fess Parker Winery, as people seem to really appreciate this winery’s ability to create rich, full Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that still possess varietal character. Today we are lucky enough to offer their 2007 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir, sourced from one of the oldest Pinot vineyards in the area, and coming from 2007, widely regarded as the best Pinot vintage of the decade in California. Bien Nacido is in the Santa Maria Valley, which is another of California’s coastal valleys whose climate is heavily moderated by the influence of ocean fog and cooling wind. Santa Maria is particularly cold for California wine country, resulting in long growing seasons that often stretch into the latter half of October. This allows the grapes to hang on the vines and develop complex, rich flavors, yet the cool temperatures prevent them from becoming over-ripe and raisined. The result is exceptionally intense wines like this one from Fess Parker.
The 2007 Fess Parker Bien Nacido Pinot Noir has a lightly colored rim, but with a near-purple core foreshadowing a well-extracted, powerful Pinot. The nose is packed with blackberry, pomegranate, and vanilla. The palate is intense and complex, with plenty of pepper and spice accompanying the black-fruit, cola and sassafras flavors. The finish is long, with rustic, persistent tannins, and a slight hint of peppermint that lingers on the tongue. This is big, ripe, California Pinot, perfect for people who usually veer toward heartier reds, or to give to your friends that claim Pinot Noir is “too light.” Perfect with beef tenderloin, or any dish featuring earthy, rustic flavors. Best of all, we were able to secure this wine and an incredible price, and are able to offer it for just over $30, and incredible bargain for any wine, but especially for a Pinot Noir of this depth and class. You never get single vineyard California Pinot at this price, but WineHeist was able to pull it off!
Vineyard Source: 100% Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa MariaValley
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Barrel Aging: 16 months in 60% New French Oak
Cooperage: Ermitage, Seguin Moreau & Francois Frerer
Harvest Date: October 5th
Block: F Clone: Pommard & 2A
Brix: 24.5-25.5
Tons per acre: 2.6
Alcohol: 14.8% alcohol by volume
p.H.: 3.76
T.A.: .61g/100ml
Production: 2536-6 pack cases
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
94 Points
Juice explodes right out of the glass with its dark purple in color and bursting aromas of black cherry jam, boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry interlaced with hints of baking spice, espresso bean, and toasted nut. The palate is ripe and juicy with flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry and raspberry perfectly integrated with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and a kiss of toasty oak.
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