Something special happened in 2017 to our old vines in W Block. The normally tropical fruit and powerful palate that Bien Nacido always shows was wrapped under a distinct layer of minerality. During a blind tasting, our wine team even guessed this one wrong. It has grapefruit, chamomile, and cut straw that burst out of the glass. The chiseled entry does yield to a rich but energetic palate, but needs a good hour in a decanter. Drink 2019 to 2026.
Because of the wind, the clouds and the sandy soils at Solomon Hills, this wine always shows exotic aromas of lemon verbena, oysters, iodine, and wet rock on the nose. The flavors of this vintage echo the nose, with a focused and very textural mid-palate. This is the richest version of Solomon Hills in at least 5 vintages. More “Chassagne Montrachet” than “Chablis,” for this normally crisp and precise chardonnay but still vibrating with nerve and vigor. Drink 2019 to 2025.
Pour this wine for your favorite Burgundy Collector friends, and fool them every time. Solomon Hills always has very distinct aromas of fennel, cinnamon, boot polish, and red fruits. We think the mint and green tea are particularly amazing. The substantially masculine palate confirms why this is definitely our “old world” wine, year after year. Drink from 2019 to 2035.
Coming out of the gate, this wine is ready to play, as are many of the 2016's– Open and Opulent. The classic spicy black tea, iron oxide, and dark fruit jump out of the glass. We love this wine with any reduction sauce. Our favorite is a morello cherry gastrique with cardamom and white pepper. We recommend drinking this wine from 2019 to 2030.
Much of Central and Southern California was once covered by citrus groves, and this year’s Syrah reminds us why. There is an amazing ruby red grapefruit and citron nose with exotic floral and smoky aromatics of violets, nutmeg, and bacon. This wine was co-fermented with Viognier, and it's easy to see why this wine has the guts to age, but also is a pop and pour favorite. Drink from 2019 to 2025.
This year’s Vin Gris is grown from 100% Pinot Noir and made only for Rosé. No bleeding off of juice here folks! This is exactly like what the yachties down in Provence would expect, with just a hint of Santa Maria Style. The bright aromas of strawberry and passion fruit in this Vin Gris of Pinot Noir bring a bright and fresh experience to the palate. Drink it soon, because we only made 100 cases. Only 85 are left after our team had their crack at it.
This wine is very nuanced with toasty cloves, pipe tobacco, and bright strawberries. The palate is fine but firm with understated elegance and has plenty to reveal if given enough time.
This wine is very Bien Nacido on the nose with mandarin, mahogany, and anise. The palate is fine but firm with understated elegance that has plenty to reveal if given enough time.
Dark aromatics of espresso, meat, and white pepper draw you in, but it’s the rich entry on the peppery and dense palate that’s a showcase of this vineyard. They complement the tightly wound but very long finish.
