2010 Bien Nacido named ‘Wine & Spirits’ “Year’s Best Chardonnay”

2010 Bien Nacido Chardonnay, WINE & SPIRITS- 96 points, Winter 2013

“Gavin Chanin sources this wine from Bien Nacido’s W Block-some of the oldest wine material in the Santa Maria Valley. The Miller family planted the stony benchland to riesling in 1973, then grafted it over to Clone 4 chardonnay in 1990. (Chanin discovered this parcel of vines while working as an assistant winemaker at Au Bon Climat and Qupé, which share a winery on the property.) In 2010, the vines’ deep root systems grew a complex, resoundingly vinous chardonnay. Its flavors are reminiscent of particularly fine oolong tea, with refreshing herb and floral scents over a nutty, mineral bass line. At turns bombastic and lifted, powerful and nuanced, it’s a symphonic performance, with a sinewy texture that has plenty of room to evolve.”