Bien Nacido, Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

Bien Nacido, Santa Maria Valley Pinot NoirThe 2020 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from across the estate and was matured in about 45% new oak. Grapes were entirely destemmed this year. "I was really worried about smoke taint," winemaker Anthony Avila says. "It's said that you must discard all the green parts of the plant. It was the right choice, and I'd do it again." Instead of using whole clusters, "We kept our foot on the gas in terms of extraction," Avila explains. "We did more

The tannins need food (preferably a lump of protein) to take away their edge

with solid punch and fine-grained tannins

Drink it over the next decade

liquid smoke and garrigue

elegant and cerebral

But it will probably be the one that will require longer in bottle to show all the potential

12 ha monopole with vines averaging 35 years of age and aged in 50% new wood)

There is excellent intensity to the overtly mineral-driven middle weight flavors that flash very good cut on the sneaky long

This is very classy

focused and beautifully well-delineated flavors that terminate in a precise

This is a huge Montrachet even by the outsized standards of what is typically the biggest white burgundy of all

rich and enveloping