August 2006 Wine Tasting Notes: 2004 Pinot Noirs.
2004 Foxen Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir - Block Eight, Santa Maria Valley.
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Smoky garnet color with great clarity. On the nose: cherry and raspberry with light oaky vanilla blend with cola and hard spice and light floral notes. The palate is rich with raspberry and strawberry flavors. Hints of cherry and hard spice balance this complex wine. Strawberry dominates the finish which ends in a slight alcohol sizzle. |
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RWB Score: 93 breakdown 15.7% Alcohol $46.00 Retail (from winery); 425 cases produced |
Burgundian in character, Californian in body. There is no Old World mineral edge to this complex but elegant and balanced wine. Mild tannins make for a medium body with lush fruit. Pair with bold dishes and watch the spices come alive. |
More Foxen reviews
Detail
The 2004 vintage of the "Ocho" (as it is affectionately called by the Foxen Boys) is comprised of 60% 2A and and 40% Sanford & Benedict (formerly: 'Mt. Eden') clones. The two lots were fermented separately then blended and aged for a year in 75% new Francois Freres medium toast barrels.
Both the 2A and Sanford & Benedict clones can produce good stand-alone wines. More often than not, most Pinot Noirs are blended from several clones. The Sanford & Benedict (reportedly brought from Louis Latour's Burgundy vineyards) produces dark, rich sometimes heavy flavors. The 2A clone brings to the table intense fruit flavors as well spice. It is a favorite of California growers and does well in Santa Barbara County appellations.
Bien Nacido’s Block Eight was planted for Foxen in 1996 with clones 2A, Sanford & Benedict, 113, 115, and Pommard. These are used solely by Foxen. Block 8 is the highest point in Bien Nacido Vineyard. Being also the steepest block, it can display grater variation in fruit. The Bien Nacido Vineyard is one of the premier vineyards in Santa Maria Valley and one of its oldest. It carries a formidable reputation and is one of the major viticultural nurseries for certified varietal budwoods.
Bill Wathen makes wines which express terroir and does not impose stylistic elements outside of his wine making methods. He prefers to let the vineyard speak for itself. This is part of the Foxen philosophy of a "hands-off" approach to making vineyard-designated wines.
Foxen Winery was founded in 1985 and is closely tied to this region of Santa Barbara County. Co-owner Dick Doré is the great-great grandson of William Benjamin Foxen - the English sea Captain who purchased the Rancho Tinaquaic lands in 1837. This area initially encompassed most of Foxen Canyon and was the site of some military action in 1846 during the Mexican War. On Christmas 1846, Foxen warned American forces of an impending ambush, allowing them to take Santa Barbara without bloodshed and leading to California being ceded to the United States. Currently 2000 acres of the original 9000 acre land grant remains in the Doré family hands.
Wine maker at Foxen is co-owner Bill Wathen. He has over thirty years of experience making wine. He graduated from Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Fruit Science, specializing in vineyard management. His first jobs were working with two of Santa Barbara County's pioneers: Dale Hampton and Louie Lucas. He has worked as vineyard manager at Chalone Vineyard. There, he learned traditional French winemaking techniques under the tutelage of Dick Graff, another California wine pioneer. He returned to Santa Barbara County in the early eighties and, along with long-time friend Dick Doré, founded Foxen.
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5 points |
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Nose |
5 points |
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Palate |
5 points |
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Finish |
4 points |
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Tannins |
5 points |
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Acidity |
5 points |
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Alcohol |
3 points |
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Aging potential |
2 points |
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Overall quality |
9 points |
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