Mission Codename The Lush
This wine is offered to you with our heartiest recommendation!
Okay, we admit it… We’re crazy about the Pinots of the Santa Lucia Highlands, but there is one vineyard in particular that we simply adore, the coveted, award-winning Bien Nacido Vineyard. This Pinot holy site was named a Top 10 Vineyard. Today’s 2016 Beckon Bien Nacido will exceed your expectations, guaranteed.
This wine has a remarkable consistency of color, with a gorgeous maroon hue and a medium density that allows light to pass through its core. It’s got a fresh and juicy nose of blackberry, raspberry, and boysenberry which is a lovely berry counterpoint to a backdrop of cassis and gardenia. Taking a sip, the Pinot surprises you, catching you off guard with a Santa Maria terroir that is earthy with plenty of brambles. Rhubarb, blackberry, and dark ripe plum are the prevailing fruit notes. This Pinot is a shapeshifter, changing personalities as it evolves on the palate, creating a deeply interesting wine drinking experience that will keep you going back for more. True to its nature, this wine would be right at home with a wide variety of foods. For that reason, a huge charcuterie with a diverse offering is the way to go: Cured meats, both sharp, hard, and mellow, soft cheeses, seasoned nuts, seasonal jams, local honey, pickled veggies, and an assortment of crackers.
Winemaker Robert Blue shows off his passion for Pinot in this ripe, balanced, and earthy expression of Pinot. Robert has been working with this vineyard for many years, and it is so gratifying to see the progression of his skills - and of this special vineyard site - through the years.
Background on the Bien Nacido Vineyard:
The Bien Nacido Vineyard, on California’s Central Coast, was named one of the Top 25 vineyards in the world by Wine & Spirits Magazine.
It was Food & Wine Magazine that called the vineyard one of the Ten best vineyards.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine routinely award 90+ point scores to wines made from Bien Nacido Vineyard fruit.
Bien Nacido is the birthplace of high-scoring, high-dollar wines from Gary Farrell Winery, Longoria, Sine Qua Non, Au Bon Climat, Ojai Vineyard, Paul Lato and Twomey, to name just a few.
What the Winery Says
2016 Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
- Winemaker
- Robert Blue
- Varietal
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Vintage
- 2016
- Appellation
- Sana Maria Valley
- Vineyard
- Bien Nacido Vineyard
- Abv
- 14.2%
- pH
- 3.39
- TA
- .62 g/100ml
- RS
- .08 g/L
- Harvested
- September 9-16, 2016
- Aging
- 100% French oak for 11 months