2020 Bien Nacido Estate, Syrah, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Critics reviews
The 2020 Syrah Estate Bien Nacido Vineyard is a powerful, dense wine. Firm tannins wrap around a core of inky blue/purplish fruit. Severe late-season heat is felt in the wine's potent, large-scaled tannins. It will be interesting to see where this goes. Lavender, liquorice, cloves and leather add an impression of sombre intensity. I am not sure if the tannins will ever soften here.
Anthony Avila turned out a gorgeous set of wines at both Bien Nacido Estate and Solomon Hills Estate. Avila commented that yields were generous in 2020 because of good set. Skins were light, though, so extractions took some time. The Chardonnays were mostly off before the worst of the heat, while spikes were harder on the later-ripening varieties. In this vintage, the Pinots were fully destemmed.
Drink 2023 - 2033
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (August 2022)
Includes about 1% co-planted, co-fermented Viognier. This wine usually sees 30–60% whole-cluster fermentation but was destemmed in 2020. Mostly pumpovers. Aged in roughly 25% new 600-litre demi-muids and a few barriques for 16 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. 350 cases made.
Dark garnet. Smells of sweet blackberry fruit. Bright blackberry and blueberry fruit flavours have a crisp freshness thanks to excellent acidity and a nice floral brightness. Lightly grippy tannins gain strength over time.
Drink 2023 - 2028
Alder Yarrow, JancisRobinson.com (August 2023)
The 2020 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from Block Z, where there are a few Viognier vines interplanted with Syrah, and all the grapes are co-fermented. Deep ruby-purple in colour, the nose offers classic tar and violet with a core of blueberry jam and touches of powdered sugar, salami and cracked pepper. The palate is full-bodied and powerful, with loads of rounded tannins, integrated freshness and a long, perfumed finish streaked with botanical nuances. About 250 cases were made.
Drink 2022 - 2027
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (December 2022)
The 2020 Estate Syrah (there’s 1% Viognier) is another cool-climate, balanced, classic, and incredibly classy wine from this label that has tons to love. Blackberries, peppery herbs, liquid violets, and some gamey nuances give way to a medium-bodied Syrah with fine tannins, a vibrant, crunchy, yet pure mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish.
These are brilliant wines across the board from Bien Nacido’s Anthony Avila, who has been at the estate since 2013. The farming here is managed by Chris Hammell, and this all-star team is delivering the goods.
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (August 2022)
About this WINE
Bien Nacido Estate
Located in the Santa Maria Valley of California's Central Coast, Bien Nacido Estate has a rich history dating back to the early 1970s when it was founded by the Millers, a farming family. The name "Bien Nacido" translates to "well born" in Spanish, reflecting the region's fertile soil and favourable climate.
More specifically, the vineyard is situated in the northern part of Santa Barbara County, which benefits from the unique maritime influence, with cool breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean moderating temperatures and extending the growing season.
The terroir of Bien Nacido is characterised by its well-drained soils, predominantly made up of gravelly loam. Combined with the cool climate, this provides ideal conditions for growing premium wine grapes, particularly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, along with other varietals such as Syrah and Nebbiolo.
The vineyard management at Bien Nacido strongly emphasises sustainability and environmental stewardship. Practices such as organic farming, water conservation, and habitat preservation are prioritised to ensure the land's long-term health.
Santa Maria Valley
Located in Santa Barbara County, California, Santa Maria Valley is known for its unique climate, known as the Santa Maria Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), which significantly influences the winemaking process and the resulting wines.
The climate is typically cool and moderate, strongly influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean. The region experiences a combination of maritime and inland influences, with foggy mornings, mild days, and cool evenings. This unique climate helps to preserve the natural acidity and delicate flavours of the grapes, making it ideal for producing high-quality wines.
Several grape varieties thrive in the region, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay being the most prominent. Pinot Noir grapes benefit from the region’s cooler climate, producing wines with complexity, elegance, and bright red fruit flavours. Chardonnay grapes also flourish in the Valley’s climate, producing wines with crisp acidity and balanced flavours.
The Winemakers focus on minimal intervention and sustainable practices, allowing the unique characteristics of the grapes and terroir to shine through in the wines. Many wineries employ traditional winemaking methods, including hand-harvesting the grapes and using open-top fermentation vessels for red wines. Some producers also use oak ageing to add complexity and texture to their wines.
The Santa Maria Valley is home to several notable wineries and vineyards, each contributing to the region’s reputation for producing exceptional wines. One of the most renowned wineries in the area is Au Bon Climat.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
Includes about 1% co-planted, co-fermented Viognier. This wine usually sees 30–60% whole-cluster fermentation but was destemmed in 2020. Mostly pumpovers. Aged in roughly 25% new 600-litre demi-muids and a few barriques for 16 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. 350 cases made.
Dark garnet. Smells of sweet blackberry fruit. Bright blackberry and blueberry fruit flavours have a crisp freshness thanks to excellent acidity and a nice floral brightness. Lightly grippy tannins gain strength over time.
Drink 2023 - 2028
Alder Yarrow, JancisRobinson.com (August 2023)
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee