I haven’t been outside of Monterey County to do wine tasting in the U.S. since I started Decanting Monterey. Planning a trip to my north San Diego County home town for a reunion, I conjured up a great idea: Why not stop in Santa Barbara County in search of Ballard Canyon AVA Syrahs on my long drive down? When I mentioned this to my friend who was also heading south, she said she had just rewatched the movie “Sideways” and thought we should make an adventure out of it. She arranged for a friend to drive her over so we could make the rest of the trip south in one car.
I booked us wine tastings in Los Olivos based on reviews of their Syrahs. I was able to do 2 quick Syrah tastings in the morning before I met them for lunch. After lunch, we did 2 sit-down tastings at places that also served whites (their preference). We made hotel reservations in Buellton and even ate at 2 restaurants from the “Sideways” movie – the Los Olivos Wine Merchant Café for lunch and The Hitching Post II for dinner. Great wine, great company and good food.
Over the next few posts, I will be presenting you the wines we tasted on this quick trip, starting with Bien Nacido Estate. I have experienced some incredibly fabulous Syrahs made from Bien Nacido Vineyard grapes, so why not taste at the vineyard’s winery!
About Bien Nacido Estate from its website: “World-Renowned Vineyard, World-Class Estate Wines”
“As the heart and soul of Santa Maria Valley wine country, the iconic Bien Nacido Vineyard is a coveted source of exceptional Burgundian and Rhone grape varieties and elegant estate wine. With the influence of the Pacific, the reliable California sun and incredible viticultural and winemaking teams, our vineyard consistently yields world-class fruit, resulting in a portfolio of highly acclaimed estate and client wines alike.”
“A California Icon in the Heart of the Santa Maria Valley
“One of the oldest cool-climate vineyards in California and home of the world’s most single vineyard designations, Bien Nacido Vineyard has been an acclaimed source of world-glass grapes and estate wine since its founding in 1973 by brothers Stephen and Bob Miller.
“Meaning “Well Born” in Spanish, Bien Nacido was planted on the historic site of the Rancho Tepusquet land grant, a plot of land that was granted to Tomás Olivera in 1837, when California was still a part of Mexico. The Olivera Family’s adobe, built in 1857, still graces the estate today – a majestic sentinel looking after the vines.”
In January 2021, Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Bien Nacido Vineyard one of the 10 Vineyards Behind the World’s Most Famous Wines:
“Located on California’s Central Coast, Bien Nacido dates to 1837. However, it didn’t arrive on many wine lovers’ maps until the Millers, a fifth-generation family of California farmers, purchased it in 1969.
“Their dream was to shepherd a vineyard that rivaled those of the great estates of Europe. Many people believe that dream has been realized.
“Bien Nacido lies in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County. It’s one of the coolest growing sites in the state due to the ocean influence and transverse (east-west orientation) Santa Ynez mountain range. The vineyard is planted to 900 acres of vines and supplies grapes to many high-end wineries in California.”
I had called ahead to let Bien Nacido know I was coming to taste their Syrahs. Maya, the tasting room presenter, figured out who I was right away. “You must be Sharon!” My trusty notebook was a dead giveaway. I kept this first tasting very short and focused on 3 red wines. Bien Nacido also makes award-winning whites and are worthy of a longer visit. Winery tasting notes come from their website or the tasting sheet, unless otherwise indicated.
2021 Bien Nacido The Bench Red, Santa Maria Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $45 (#811) 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre
Winery Notes: This is a newer release than posted on the website. Maya called it a “Netflix and chill” wine.
My Review: Purple hue. Dark, grape aromas on the nose plus a little something slightly off-putting I call the “Central Coast Funk”. The heavy Syrah component gives it a nice, jammy palate with lots of berry and cherry flavors and a lingering finish. Yummy. I took one of these home with me. August 2022
2019 Bien Nacido Syrah, Santa Maria Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $60 (#812)
Winery Notes: “A classic expression of Bien Nacido offering aromas of fresh violet and white pepper with flavors of blueberry pie on the palate.”
My Review: Dark ruby/purple in the glass. Spice, jam and caramel on the nose. Intense dark fruit, tobacco and spice on the palate – a bit over the top. Would pair well with a rib-eye steak! A wine to lay down and revisit. August 2022
2018 Bien Nacido The XO Reserve Syrah, Santa Maria Valley AVA, 13% ABV, $100 (#813)
Winery Notes: “Our XO Syrah is crafted exclusively from our famed X Block, the source of cool-climate California’s first Syrah plantings. Named in honor of The Executive Officer (the XO), second in command of a naval ship, this exceptional wine consistently exhibits incredibly concentrated flavors, a deep inky color and distinct elements of espresso, meat and sage. The XO Syrah spends 18 months in 25% new French Oak barrels, resulting in tight-grained tannins. With only select grapes used to harvest this wine, The XO Syrah is consistently one of our most sought-after small-lot wines, with some vintages yielding as few as 44 cases a year…
“Concentrated flavors, deep color and the prestige of coming from cool-climate California’s oldest Syrah vines make it no surprise that this exceptional wine is one of the most coveted produced from Bien Nacido Vineyard.”
Wine Enthusiast – 96 points: “This Syrah expresses leather, tobacco, and smoked meats on the nose. The palate has an unbelievable density with clove and white pepper giving way to brooding tannins and excellent length. The intensity displayed in this wine will unwind in the coming years.”
My Review: Dark ruby/purple in the glass. Spice, jam and caramel on the nose. Intense dark fruit, tobacco and spice on the palate – a bit over the top. Would pair well with a rib-eye steak! Another wine to lay down and revisit. I was very lucky to be able to taste this members-only wine. August 2022
Tasting Bien Nacido Wines in Los Olivos: “Our tasting room offers the perfect opportunity to experience the best of Bien Nacido Estate, with a variety of ways to explore our portfolio. Enjoy a tasting flight featuring both Bien Nacido Estate wines and the wines of our sister winery, Solomon Hills Estate. Consider upgrading your tasting experience by pairing your flight with some charcuterie and cheese. Stop in for a glass of our current selections or join some friends for a bottle to share.” Located at 2963 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, CA 93441. Make a reservation on their website or call them at 805-318-6640. They are open Sunday, Monday and Thursday 10-5 and Friday and Saturday 10-6.
© Decanting Monterey 2023
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