2014 Bien Nacido Estate, Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA

2014 Bien Nacido Estate, Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA

Product: 20148031808
 
2014 Bien Nacido Estate, Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA

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About this WINE

Bien Nacido Estate

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.

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Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County

At the foot of the Central Coast, just north of Los Angeles, the Santa Barbara County reverberates with its Missionary past, although viticulture as we know didn't arrive here until the 1970s. Now there are 6,000 ha of world class Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

While fog banks shape the season, together with a notable rainfall deficit between May & November, elevated terraces such as Bien Nacido in the Santa Maria Valley AVA faciliate premium fruit growing. Santa Ynez Valley AVA enjoys similar trait, though cooler still;

Recommended Producers:
Au Bon Climat's Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay from the region's Santa Rita hills is a prime example. Qupe are another excellent source

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Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.

Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.

Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.

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