2015 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley 750 ml

For California Pinot Noir enthusiasts, few names carry the weight of Gary Farrell, a pioneer of the Russian River Valley who famously helped usher in the region’s rise to prominence. But Farrell’s influence isn’t limited to the fog-shrouded hills of Sonoma—for 20 years he’s been quietly investing in the Central Coast’s finest sites, including the legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard.

Named one of the “Top 25 Vineyards in the World” by Wine & Spirits, included among the “Top Five California Vineyards” by the Wall Street Journal, and considered one of the “Top Grand Cru Vineyards in California” by Wine Enthusiast, Bien Nacido’s reputation for exceptional Pinot Noir is well-earned. So when fate offered us the chance to score an exclusive allocation of Farrell’s ode to this Grand Cru site, we took every bottle we could and didn’t look back. 

Today, we’re thrilled to share the perfectly cellared 2015 Gary Farrell Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot, a remarkable testament to one of the most fabled sites in California. 

Vinous’s Antonio Galloni recently called the Central Coast “one of the most exciting and dynamic regions anywhere in the world,” and this ‘15 is a liquid testament to his words: Farrell’s Bien Nacido bottling impresses right out of the gate with dried cranberry and earthy mushroom and sage aromas, which are joined on the palate by concentrated red cherry and wild strawberry, as well as clove, savory herbs, and complex baking spice. An impressive tea-like tannic structure builds on a finish that feels like it goes on forever.  

In their 93-point Editors’ Choice review, Wine Enthusiast described this wine as “a stunning example of a wine that’s fresh and light yet loaded with flavor.” We agree, but then, we’ve come to expect nothing less when top producers like Gary Farrell source from benchmark sites like Bien Nacido Vineyard.  

Located 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean on the northern end of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, the influence of the sea is unmistakable in the cool vineyard temperatures—Bien Nacido’s hallmark. Its slopes are on the receiving end of one of the few east-west transverse mountain ranges in California, which allows maritime-influenced morning fog and cool afternoon breezes to imbue the grapes with their distinctive aromatics, complexity, and pitch-perfect balance.

Gary Farrell was shrewd enough to start sourcing fruit from this historic site over 20 years ago. His storied Sonoma winery opened in 1982, and he soon gained a reputation for small-lot Burgundian varieties, characterized by high-toned elegance and gorgeous acidity. Though he’s known by collectors as a pioneer of the Russian River Valley, he fell hard for Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir, and became one of its earliest champions.

His dedication to Bien Nacido is carried on today by celebrated winemaker Theresa Heredia, a Joseph Phelps alum and San Francisco Chronicle “Winemaker to Watch.” Heredia has seriously upped the quality game at Gary Farrell in recent years, transitioning to whole-cluster fermentation, using native yeasts, and embracing vineyards where grapes struggle to grow. With her otherworldly touch for Burgundian-style Pinot Noir, few were surprised when Gary Farrell was named a Top 100 Winery by Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2019.

It was Heredia who managed to unlock access to Bien Nacido’s most prized Q Block, defined by its unique Pommard clonal selection that was planted in 1973—considered among the oldest Pinot Noir planted on its own roots in California. Situated in soils composed of gravel, sandy marine loam, and calciferous clay, these highly-coveted grapes are to thank for this wine’s concentrated red fruit complexity and vibrancy.

With a rich history that extends back to 1837 as a Spanish land grant, Bien Nacido Vineyard is now the crown jewel vineyard of Santa Barbara County—commanding serious coin from wineries lucky enough to score the Bien Nacido name on their labels. Given the pedigree of this world-class vineyard, interpreted by the deft touch of a talent like Heredia this 2015 Gary Farrell Bien Nacido Pinot Noir is all but impossible to pass on.