2015 Foxen Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard 750 ml

The Critics Agree: This is One of the Best California Sites for Pinot Noir

When you put 30+ years of Pinot Noir experience together with a vineyard “in the upper echelon of vineyard sites in California,” as Antonio Galloni of Vinous put it, the results are predictably extraordinary. Such is the case with the 2015 Foxen Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard, crafted by Sta. Rita Hills pioneers Bill Wathen and Dick Doré.

Wine Enthusiast awarded their single-vineyard effort a star-studded 95 points, writing, “extremely alluring aromas of black plum and blackberry meet with touches of caramel, vanilla and fresh rose on the nose.” Galloni called the 2015 a “bold, direct wine,” while Jeb Dunnuck offered, “Reminding me of Premier Cru from the northern part of Burgundy with its darker cherry, saddle leather, and sappy floral aromas and flavors.” The best part? While other top flight coastal Pinot Noirs frequently crack the $75-$100 mark, this clocks in at under-$50. Don’t miss it.

Perched at the far eastern edge of the windy, mist-sprayed Santa Rita Hills appellation, the John Sebastiano Vineyard was planted in 2007, but to winemakers it’s already famous for crafting some of the most dazzling expressions of Pinot Noir on the Central Coast. In fact, outside of the world-famous crus of the Côte de Nuits, there are few places on earth capable of coaxing the grape into such a powerful yet elegant package. Why? It’s all about the Pacific. Blowing directly across the vineyard’s steep slopes, where the latest Dijon clones slowly ripen to perfection, the cooling ocean winds not only preserve vibrancy and freshness, but also bring forth small, tightly-clustered berries of unbelievable dark-fruit intensity.

This miraculous marine influence has rarely been more apparent than in the phenomenal 2015 vintage in the Sta. Rita Hills, and we’re not the only ones who’ve noticed. The critical acclaim garnered by the 2015 Foxen Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard has been steady and strong. It’s a testament to the philosophy of Bill and Dick—or as they’re affectionately known around the office, “the Foxen Boys”—which puts its trust in the terroir and lets the vineyard do the talking.

Few vineyards in California speak as eloquently and distinctly as John Sebastiano Vineyard, and the translation in bottle is stunning—think classic Vosne spice and polish channeled through the unmistakable ripeness of California’s Central Coast.