Wine & Spirits gives 2011 Bien Nacido Chardonnay 94 Points

Wine & Spirits magazine recently reviewed the 2011 Bien Nacido Chardonnay in the April issue, giving it a score of 94 points! See below for the full review.

 

2011 Santa Maria Valley Bien Nacido Vyd. Chardonnay

A cool, wet year and aggressive triage left Gavin CHanin with about 20 percent of the fruit he normally gets off his rows of Bien Nacido bench land chardonnay, the vine roots dating back to 1973. Oak frames the wine, but the fruit’s powerful enough to match it, building from lemony tank of its acidity into a red-fruited musculature that suggests raspberries and apple skin. Its old-vine structure feels almost crunchy yet remains airy and aromatic amid its density of flavor. Blanquette de veau would be a good choice to match this concentrated chardonnay.