Fess Parker Winery
2007 "Bien Nacido Vineyard" Pinot Noir

93 Points (Cellar Selection) - Wine Enthusiast
91 Points - Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
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

Tasting Notes  PDF

About The Winery...

When Fess Parker was cast in the roll of Davy Crockett in the mid-1950’s, it caused an international sensation and changed his life forever. So too did the purchase of 714 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley change the course of the Parker family’s history.

Realizing the potential of Santa Barbara County as a premium grape-growing region, Fess and his son, Eli, originally set out in 1989 to plant a small vineyard and sell fruit to local producers. But, as Fess’ daughter, Ashley explains, “ Fess is from Texas, so he can’t do anything small. “The Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard now farms almost 700 acres on four vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County.

The characters Fess portrayed, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, inspired generations of Americans. Throughout the late 1950’s and 1960’s Fess was at the pinnacle of a television career that has an unprecedented impact upon American popular culture. But is was Fess’ entrepreneurial spirit that prompted his leaving Hollywood to go into business for himself. The traits that Crockett and Boone embodied - integrity, resourcefulness and good humor -- L-R Tim Snider, Fess Parker, Ashley Parker Snider, Eli Parkercarried over to Fess’ personal life and formed the foundation upon which the family business was built. First-class hospitality has always been at the core of their ventures, first as hoteliers and eventually with the opening of the winery.

Working as a family has always been a great source of pride and pleasure for the Parker family. Eli Parker began in the family business as assistant winemaker in 1989. After several years of learning the craft at the side of renowned and accomplished winemakers, Eli took the reigns as winemaker himself with the 1995 vintage. A leader of the winery since it’s inception, it was in 1996 that Eli formally assumed the title and responsibilities of President. In the early 1990’s, Ashley ran the first tastings out of the barrel room and represented the winery at trade shows. In 1998, Ashley became Eli’s partner, working on the public relations and sales and marketing teams. The presence of Fess and his wife Marcy as the founding visionaries of the winery is a vital and enduring one.

More at www.fessparker.com.

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