#foxen
Foxen
7200 Grassini Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Part of one of my Foxen wine shipments, always a pleasure to drink - and why not tonight?!? The Grassini vineyard, a relatively new vineyard planted in 2002, specializes in Bordeaux varietals, in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA (designated in 2009). Happy Canyon is located in the easternmost end of the Santa Ynez valley - a unique microclimate with loamy-clay soils that produce low yielding, highly flavorful wines. Foxen, founded by masters Dick Doré and Bill Wathen in 1985, is one of the most iconic and notable wineries in the Santa Barbara county, (and one of my personal favorites!), that produces high quality Bordeaux and Rhône style single and blended varietal wines. ~$44 | #foxen #cabernertsauvignon #happycanyon
On the eyes: Deep, opaque, purplish-red, med+ stain, med+ stain, no gas/floc.
On the nose: Blackberry, mulberry, stewed sour cherry, and rich earthiness with a bit of smoke and petrol. Med alcohol.
On the tongue: Med+ tannin, med+ acid, Med+ alcohol, full round body. Sour cherry, mulberry, leather, cigar box with a long rich finish. Tastes of Bordeaux. This one drinks young and could use 3-5 in the bottle! — 9 years ago
Foxen
Williamson-Doré Vineyard Cuvée Jeanne Marie Red Rhone Blend 2007
Basket full of dark fruit #foxen #gsm #wine #delectable — 10 years ago
Foxen
Soloman Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013
Part of my October wine club shipment, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this little beauty. As opposed to the Burgundy Pinot I last reviewed, this is a strictly new world juice. As noted in previous reviews, new world producers (think US, South America, Australia, etc.) have started to play around with their Pinots and in California, a prevailing trend is to create a luscious, velvety juice from an otherwise subtle grape and then punch it up several more notches. This wine is a cuvée of Dijon 115 and 667 clones with a bit of Pommard. Solomon Hills is a part of the Santa Maria AVA, located on its western edge which means it is situated perfectly to take advantage of the maritime climate of the area. The soils are sandy loam which allow the roots of the vines to dig deep - yielding an excellent mineralty and salinity to the grape. As stated before, this isn't your average Pinot, feel free to pair with something fatty and enjoy. ~$58 | #foxen #solomonhills #pinotnoir
On the eyes: Pale, med concentration, ruby red, med stain, med+ tears, no gas/floc.
On the nose: Floral, clove, juicy strawberry and cherry, with just a bit of pleasant industrial aroma. Med+ alcohol.
On the tongue: Med acid, med tannin, med+ alcohol, med body. Tons of floral rose character and juicy red fruit flavor that dances on the palette, spicy going down, cinnamon and clove, with a nice subtle mushroom note, ending with toasty, smoky oak. Med+ alcohol, long finish. If you like your Pinots bold and heavily new world, you can't get much better.
— 8 years ago
Foxen
John Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
The John Sebastiano vineyard is a newer plot located on the eastern side of the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Owned by Sebastiano Sterpa and John Wagner, the vineyard specializes in Clone 115 and Swan varietals to produce big juicy Pinot Noir. This wine embodies the current move in the Pinot world of producing Pinot Noir that's bigger, juicier, and more alcoholic than your average Pinot. Either you love this style or you're indifferent - I don't mind tasting the experiment from time to time. ~$48 | #foxen #pinotnoir #santaritahills
On the eyes: Deep clear garnet rimming out to reddish pink, bright, med stain, med tears. No gas/floc.
On the nose: Braised red cabbage, stewed plums and black cherries, a hint of vanilla and perfume. Med+ Alcohol.
On the tongue: Med+ acid, med tannin, med+ alcohol, med body, round and juicy mouthfeel. Super ripe cherry, plum and blueberry. Violet, a hint of vanilla and pepper. Long finish. Drinks like a mini-Syrah. — 9 years ago
Foxen
Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2013
As far as domestic Pinot goes, Foxen has always been one of my favorite producers. Consistent year after year, great quality:price ratio, and they're just so damn nice every time I visit the winery! Sweet cherry, spice, clove, and strawberry all day long. Just a great any-day wine to enjoy with my momma. #delectable #foxen #pinotnoir — 10 years ago
Foxen
7200 Volpino Sangiovese Blend 2012
The Foxen Volpino, or "little fox", is a 78% Sangiovese - 22% Merlot blend. The merlot hails from Vogelzang located in Happy Canyon AVA, but I'm not sure where the sangiovese is sourced. Either way, the wine is one of the 7200's "caltalian" blends that, if available, can be poured for you in the winery's "Shack" tasting room. The shack is an adorable bare bones structure located off the Foxen Canyon Road surrounded by old world charms and stunning vistas, full of sassy sommeliers and attendants. Not fined or filtered, the grapes and barrels do the talking and deliver a fine new world example of an old world staple. ~$32 | #foxen #volpino #caltalian
On the eyes: Bright, garnet, burnt orange color, med+ stain, med+ tears, no gas, floc present.
On the nose: Vinous, cassis, blackberry, tobacco, mint, hints of petrol, med+ alcohol.
On the tongue: high acid, med+ tannin, med+ alcohol, med round body. Juicy, black cherry, current jam, a tinge of pressed meats, then leather yielding to oak and smoke. A very serviceable table wine - still young, wait another a year or two as it starts to come into its own. — 8 years ago
Foxen
Dry Farmed Tinaquaic Vineyard Chardonnay 2013
This dry farmed Chardonnay from Foxen was part of a shipment, and from a vineyard I always enjoy drinking. Rancho Tinaquaic was a land grant, from Mexico, given in 1837 in which the Tinaquaic vineyard resides. The vineyard is just northeast of Los Alamos. The land grant was purchased by Foxen co-owner Dick Doré's great great grandfather. The Foxen boys typically dry farm these grapes and sometimes the results can be magnificent (e.g. 2007 Cab Franc or 2012 Syrah). Great care must be taken with the dry farmed fruit - the right soil, microclimate, and maintenance - or the grower will be left more raisin than grape. Foxen is one of the few in Santa Barbara county that still practice the craft, and practice it well. ~$37 | #foxen #chardonnay #tinaquaic
On the eyes: Clear, star bright yellow, light stain, med+ tears, no gas/floc.
On the nose: Overripe pineapple, overripe pear, jasmine, and soft cheese with a touch of salty citrus. Med alcohol.
On the tongue: Med+ acid, med tannin, med alcohol, med+ body, buttery in the mouth. Tropical fruits, (think pineapple, guava, and lychee), rounded out with cashew and orange blossom. Nice finish. — 9 years ago
Foxen
Toasted Rope Syrah 2013
This Foxen vintage is part of their Rhône style portfolio of wines. It's a co-fermented 82% Syrah and 18% Viognier blend from the Vogelzang vineyard. That unusual pairing leads to some very interesting flavors on the tongue - stone fruit and light red berry in a medium bodied juicy red wine. This one came in my December shipment and is always a wonderfully drinkable wine. ~$44 | #foxen #syrah #santaynez #vogelzang
On the eyes: Day bright crimson red, clear and medium concentration. Med stain, med tears, no gas/floc.
On the nose: A touch of violet and delicate herbaceousness rounded by pluot, mission fig, and toasty notes. Med+ alcohol.
On the tongue: Med tannin, med+ acid, med+ alcohol, med body. Floral, stewed plums, figs, and red currents with a clean oaky finish. A nice Rhône style that's a bit chewy with a lovely long finish. — 9 years ago
Zachary Price
Holiday vino! This little beauty came in my last shipment from Foxen, one of my favorite producers in Santa Barbara county. The Guillermo Grasso is Foxen’s take on a new world Tuscan - a 50:50 Sangiovese (Faith Vineyard)-Cabernet Sauvignon (Vogelzang Vineyard). 22 months in French Oak - 40% new - gives this wine a hefty punch of tannin and body. While the Vogelzang Vineyard is well known for producing wonderfully complex Cabernet, I’m not as familiar with Faith Vineyard - however a quick Google search shows that the Vineyard, located in Santa Ynez, specializes in Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc on a 7 acre plot. Though Foxen recommends cellaring this one for a few years to mellow out - I’m drinking it early. Paired with fish tacos. ~$35 | #foxen #santaynezvalley #supertuscan
On the eyes: Deep, concentrated blood red, bright - but hazy (unfined and unfiltered), med+ stain, med+ tears, no gas.
On the nose: Strawberry, cherry, rose hips, pencil shavings, tobacco, and a bit of earthy funk. Med+ alcohol.
On the tongue: Med+ acid, med+ tannin, med+ alcohol, full body, firm and tight. Red currants, raspberry, floral high notes, cigar box, and worn leather. A bit cloying and rambunctious - it would benefit from a year or two in the cellar, but still very yummy! Decant it and enjoy! Merry Christmas! — 7 years ago