2008 Foxen Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block N

The 2008 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Block N is slightly lighter ruby-colored than the Sea Smoke, with loads of roasted herbs, berry fruit, cherries, and smoke in the aromatics. With medium to full-bodied flavors, this lush wine is undeniably seductive and rich, but it is not as concentrated as the Sea Smoke. Yet on the charm meter, it scores extremely high. This is Pinot Noir at its most endearing, and it should drink nicely for another 5-7 years where well-stored. This is one of my favorite wineries in Santa Maria. Proprietors Bill Wathen and Dick Dore have been making wines at Foxen since 1985. There is some serious history as well, as one of Dick Dore’s ancestors was a retired English sea captain who settled in Santa Barbara in the early 1800s, hence the nautical symbols embedded in the labels. Foxen is one of the few wineries in California that has not abandoned one of the best grapes in the world, Chenin Blanc. This grape can produce wonderful wines from this region when handled properly. Four brilliant Pinot Noirs have emerged from Foxen in what could have been a very challenging vintage. These are some of the best examples of Pinot Noir I tasted from this vintage. P.S. All of these wines from Bill Wathen and Dick Dore are bottled “delicately,” without fining or filtration. Tel. (805) 937-4251