Beckon is a call to experience the flavor of the remarkable intersection of California history, ideal winegrowing terroir and a profound respect for sustainable cultivation. The distinctly complex flavor and jewel-bright clarity of Beckon Pinot Noir reflect the unique terroir of Bien Nacido Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley. The delicate alchemy of foggy nights, long sunny days and mineral-rich soils found in this particular area of Santa Barbara County have created a new standard for California Pinot Noir. Bien Nacido Vineyards lies at the northern end of Santa Barbara County on elevated benchlands in the Santa Maria Valley, just 17 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Buffeted by the Sierra Madre Mountains, the site is comprised of varied soils including well-drained sandy loam from the Elder Shale and Pleasanton series.
Tasting Notes
The 2016 Beckon Bien Nacido Pinot Noir opens with captivating aromas of cherry and pomegranate, accented by subtler tones of violets, bergamot and toast. Offering supple texture and an energizing mineral quality, the palate delivers elegance and finesse alongside nuanced flavors of red and black fruits, earth, herbs and brown spice. A suggestion of cocoa figures on a lingering finish, which concludes with an elegant note of savory pain grillé.
In the winery, grapes were hand-sorted, gently destemmed and cold- soaked for several days. A portion of the fruit was fermented in oak barrels, and the rest in open-top tanks. Following fermentation, skins were pressed off in a basket press and the wine was aged for 11 months in 100% French oak barrels from a variety of coopers.