Fact Sheets, Reviews & Tasting Notes
Core Wines
2018 Chenin Blanc “Old Vines” Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard
| This 3-acre vineyard in the heart of the Santa Maria Bench was planted 50 years ago, and is named for Dick’s great uncle, Ernesto Wickenden. This little vineyard is situated in a wind-protected swale in between the Cambria and Byron vineyards, at the mouth of Tepesquet Canyon, and is farmed by Bill and our vineyard crew. The wine is bright and lively, and displays notes of citrus, pear and melon, with a long clean “minerally” finish. |
2017 Chardonnay, Block UU – Bien Nacido Vineyard
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Originally planted in 1973 with Clone 4 on its own roots, Block UU, at the eastern edge of the Bien Nacido Vineyard, was inter-planted in 1991 with the same Clone 4 Chardonnay. The wine is distinguished by beautiful tropical and citrus aromas that are followed by a rich full mouthfeel and flavors of grapefruit, pineapple and mango, notes of minerality and just a hint of toasty vanilla. Malo-lactic fermentation is discouraged to help this wine retain its natural bright acidity that beautifully balances the richness of the mouthfeel. |
2017 Chardonnay, Tinaquaic Vineyard
| Foxen’s estate vineyard was planted in 1989 by Dick and Bill. The Chardonnay from this vineyard yields fruit with distinctive intensity, complexity and minerality. |
2016 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
| Our most fruit forward Pinot Noir, the pinot for this bottling comes most prominently from our five-acre Pommard Clone section of our Block 8 at Bien Nacido. In addition, we also blended into it a bit more from some of our other favorite blocks at Bien Nacido, Riverbench and Solomon Hills Vineyards. This wine was bottled after ten months in second-year French barrels to preserve its bright red, summer fruit flavors and spice components. |
2016 Pinot Noir, John Sebastiano Vineyard
| This 100-acre vineyard was planted in 2007 to 48 different blocks, three of which Foxen controls, along the eastern border of the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Our blocks are planted with pinot clones 2A and the Dijon clones 667 and 115. |
2015 Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard
| La Encantada Vineyard, or the “charmed place”, was planted by Richard Sanford in 2000. It is located on the western fringe of the Santa Rita Hills appellation, where its northern exposure makes it one of the coolest sites in the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Foxen sources Dijon Pinot Noir Clones 667 and 115 from elevated, sloped mesas at this beautiful vineyard. |
2016 Pinot Noir, Block 8 – Bien Nacido Vineyard
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Exclusively planted for us in 1996 by Bien Nacido Vineyard, our eleven-acre Block 8 sits on the highest point and one of the steepest sections of this Santa Maria Bench vineyard. Our original planting includes five acres of Pommard Clone (that we farm for our Santa Maria Valley bottling) and the remaining acreage is planted with Clones 2A, Mt. Eden, 113 and 115 that are blended for our Block 8 bottling. In 2006 we planted an additional 3 acres (Block 43 that sits adjacent to Block 8) of Pinot Noir (Clones 667 and 777) that now adds new depth and complexity to this wine. Our Block 8 is bottled after seven months in François Frères barrels (70% new). |
2016 Pinot Noir, Solomon Hills Vineyard
| Solomon Hills Vineyard is on the Western edge of the Santa Maria Valley AVA and has southwest facing slopes. What truly makes this Pinot Noir unique is the sandy soil it is grown in. This wine has delicate saline and mineral qualities that makes it perfect for seafood dishes. We are proud to include this single vineyard designate Pinot to our FOXEN line up. |
2016 Pinot Noir, Julia’s Vineyard
| Julia’s Vineyard is located in the heart of the Santa Maria Bench and is one of the oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in Santa Barbara Valley. We have been sourcing a small amount of Pommard Clone fruit from this vineyard since 1996. Our Julia’s displays subtle notes of spice and sweet leather to complement its cherry flavors and velvety texture. |
2016 Pinot Noir, Block 43 – Bien Nacido Vineyard
| This 2.5 acre vineyard block sits next to our Block 8 was planted in 2006, with a steep south-west exposure. Our Block 43, planted with the pinot Dijon clones 667 and 777, warranted a single-vineyard bottling for the 2011 vintage. |
2016 Syrah, Williamson-Doré Vineyard
| Jenny and Dick’s seven-acre Williamson-Doré vineyard, planted in 1999, sits on the eastern realm of the Santa Ynez Valley, close to the entrance to Happy Canyon. The site is gently sloped to the south, with great sun exposure and shallow soils that de-vigor the vines and thus concentrating the fruit. Varietals grown include Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Sangiovese. |
2016 Volpino
| Our “Volpino” (meaning little fox) has become a staple in our line up of wines at our 7200 “shack”. Faith Vineyard located in a small oak-studded valley below Figueroa Mountain--grows great Sangiovese year after year. We blend in some Merlot (from Vogelzang Vineyard in Happy Canyon) to round out the mouthfeel and soften the Sangiovese’s tannins. This wine is bottled after 22 months in French oak barrels. This wine is always one of our most popular foxen 7200 wines. |
2016 Range 30 West
| This wine is 61% Merlot from Vogelzang Vineyard and 39% Cabernet Franc from Three Creek Vineyard--both in Happy Canyon, which is appellation that sits on the eastern reaches of the Santa Ynez Valley. “Range 30 West” is the U.S. Geographical Survey designation for this area of Happy Canyon where we source our Bordeaux varietals. The individual components were blended prior to bottling after aging in French oak barrels (44% new) for 22 months. |
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vogelzang Vineyard
| Planted in 1998 in the Happy Canyon appellation of the Santa Ynez Valley. the Vogelzang Vineyard has a proven track record for high quality Bordeaux varietals. Foxen sources Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Vogelzang for our 7200 wines |
2017 Cuvée Jeanne Marie Williamson-Doré Vineyard
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The Williamson-Dore vineyard, planted in 1999, sits on the eastern realm of the Santa Ynez Valley, close to the entrance to Happy Canyon. The site is gently sloped to the south, with great sun exposure, and the soil is shallow, devigorating the vines and thus concentrating the fruit. Varietals grown include Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Sangiovese. |
2017 Cabernet Franc, “Dry Farmed” Tinaquaic Vineyard
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Tight aromatic notes of lipstick peppers, cocoa dusted chocolate, chipotle,blueberry and cigar box that are more generous with time.The flavors are typical of Tinaquaic Franc, yet perhaps denser due to the extremely low yield. Spice, plum, cedar and cherry all combine in the mouth for a “Christmas fruitcake” effect. |