Wine Tasting Notes
Byron Wines
Byron Winery was founded in 1984 by Ken "Byron" Brown - one of the iconic figures in Santa Barbara County viniculture - with the intent of producing Burgundian-styled wines.
The estate originally consisted of three vineyards: the historic Nielson Vineyard (which has been growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay commercially since 1964), the Sierra Madre Vineyard (six miles west of the winery in the western end of the appellation) and Garey Vineyard. The latter two have been sold off. 220 of the remaining Nielson Vineyard's 310-acres is planted to mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as small lots of Rhône varietals: Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah (there are no white Rhône varietals planted in this vineyard). The Dijon clones planted in the Nielson Vineyard were selected specifically for this site, ranked in the coolest category on the U.C. Davis scale. Growing seasons at this site are also among the longest in all of California. Benefiting form southern exposure, fruit from these vines is defined by firm structure, vivid color and concentration. The flavors are bold and complex with rich fruit and floral notes.
The winery was purchased by the Mondavi family in 1990. Ken, now Winemaker and General Manager, was able to develop the winery as a place of natural framing practices, and a place of experimental viticulture and gentle grape handling. In pursuit of his ideal of gentle grape handling Ken, along with the Mondavis and architect R. Scott Johnson (designer of the Opus One winery) designed a multi-level winery facility which eliminates the need for pumping and utilizes gravity to rack wine. The facility was brought on line in 1996. With changes in the Mondavi company, Byron was sold off to a Washington State-based farming family. Unfortunately, their portfolio was too large to handle and Byron was again sold to Kendall-Jackson shortly thereafter. Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson (partner in Kendall-Jackson) also own Cambria Wines in Santa Maria Valley. The Byron and Io labels will remain distinct and separate brands, making the same line up of wines as in the past.
In 2001 Jonathan Nagy became Assistant Winemaker at Byron and was brought up to his current position as Director of Winemaking at Byron in 2003. Since then, Ken has left the winery but Jonathan has carried on his legacy by making wines for Io - Byron's Rhône wine label.
2006 Byron Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
2005 Byron Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 88 points
2004 Byron Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 89 points
2003 Byron Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 95 Points
2003 Byron Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 97 Points
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