2017 Beckon Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley
Tasting Notes
Beckon is a call to experience the flavor of the remarkable intersection of California history, ideal winegrowing terroir and a profound respect for sustainable cultivation. The distinctly complex flavors and jewel-bright clarity of Beckon Pinot Noir reflect the unique terroir of Bien Nacido Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley. The delicate alchemy of foggy nights, long sunny days, and mineral-rich soils found in this particular area of Santa Barbara County have created a new standard for California Pinot Noir. Bien Nacido Vineyards lies at the northern end of Santa Barbara County on elevated benchlands in the Santa Maria Valley, just 17 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Buffeted by the Sierra Madre Mountains, the site is comprised of varied soils including well-drained sandy loam from the Elder Shale and Pleasanton series.
The 2017 Beckon Bien Nacido Pinot Noir opens with captivating aromas of cherry and pomegranate, accented by subtler tones of violets, bergamot, and toast. Offering supple texture and an energizing mineral quality, the palate delivers elegance and finesse alongside nuanced flavors of red and black fruits, earth, herbs, and brown spice. A suggestion of cocoa figures on a lingering finish, which concludes with an elegant note of savory pain grillé.
In the winery, grapes were hand-sorted, gently destemmed, and cold-soaked for several days. A portion of the fruit was fermented in oak barrels, and the rest in open-top tanks. Following fermentation, skins were pressed off in a basket press and the wine was aged for 11 months in 100% French oak barrels from a variety of coopers.
Specs
Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellations: Santa Maria Valley
Date of Harvest: September 14, 2017
Aging: 100% French oak for 11 months
Appellations: Santa Maria Valley
Date of Harvest: September 14, 2017
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 0.7 g/L
Total Acidity: 0.62 g/100 ml
pH: 3.45
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x 2017 Beckon Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley
Case:
12x 2017 Beckon Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley
Fetzer stands for a good today and a better tomorrow. We inspire change—one glass at a time—by uniting business with the purpose to do right by people and the planet. People and the planet deserve better! We’ve made it our mission to do right by both in everything we do. Brighten-the-future, lighten-our-footprint type stuff.
We are part of a global movement of brands using business as a force for good to build a more inclusive, sustainable economy that benefits everyone. Cool, right?! As a Certified B Corp, we are committed to caring for our workers, communities, and the environment in everything we do.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
@kaolis@klezman Of course it is supposed to be a $44 dollar bottle. It doesn’t have toast. It doesn’t even have have the normal pain grille, but elegant savory toast.
Once again, I have a lot of thesaurases and dictionaries winemakers. Take that $12 bottle and let me make it sound like a $44.
Snark aside, heck of a discount if it is remotely worth that SRP.
The wine arrived Thursday. Layed it down on my wine rack. HVAC broke so it unfortunately sat at 78 degrees for a day. When we went to taste, Friday evening, our house had cooled down and so had my closet.
First smell: Fruity, berries, smells like what I think of for Santa Barbara. Definitely strawberry. No wood or anything else. My husband said he smelled spice.
First sips: Dryer than it smells! Some bright fruits. Wish there was more oak, but I prefer Willamette Valley in general. Small bite of acidity.
After a quick decant (30-60 min) Hubby tasted fruit, alcohol, no dryness or tannins. He kept noting the spice flavor of the wine, which I didn’t taste as much.
For dinner, we had a white mushroom pizza with truffle oil, olives, and Caesar salad. The wine was very complimentary, the acidity in particular. It tasted almost sweet with the olives. I think this would hold up well for a table dinner or barbecue. Some sort of funk on the end (in a good way) makes me think it would go well with pork, especially grilled.
Day 2 (ie right now): Similar to last night and held up fine. And surpise! a new, lasting berry finish. I’m also finally getting some of that spice and some vanilla. I like it better day 2. Less round, less mellow, more flavors. Pretty yummy along with breakfast. Not sure this would be as good day 3.
This seems an easy drinker and went well with the food. Nothing fancy or super layered but yummy and likeable. At this price, it’s got great QPR. If we weren’t moving, I’d absolutely be in for a case. I feel like it’s a steal for a solid, easy to drink, multi-noted pinot noir. I’d happily bring this to a dinner party, bring it out when I have friends over, or drink on a week day. Also a solid barbecue wine.
On my phone so I’ll post pics in a bit in case it helps anyone.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
2017 Beckon Bien Nacido Pinot Noir from Fetzer Vineyards - $45 = 23.06%
Y’all lost me with the silly “About the Winery” fluff. Nothing about wine, just some blather from a seemingly autogenerated, mission statement prank. I won’t even touch on the wine description. Hope Ty’s work shows up soon. Back to bed here.
2017 Beckon Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $528/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, Jul 5 - Thursday, Jul 7
2017 Beckon Bien Nacido Pinot Noir
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $149.99 $12.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Pinot from Fetzer? That’s going to need some rats!
@klezman yeah and supposedly 44 buck Pinot…not any Sundial Chardonnay here!
@kaolis @klezman Of course it is supposed to be a $44 dollar bottle. It doesn’t have toast. It doesn’t even have have the normal pain grille, but elegant savory toast.
Once again, I have a lot of thesaurases and dictionaries winemakers. Take that $12 bottle and let me make it sound like a $44.
Snark aside, heck of a discount if it is remotely worth that SRP.
The wine arrived Thursday. Layed it down on my wine rack. HVAC broke so it unfortunately sat at 78 degrees for a day. When we went to taste, Friday evening, our house had cooled down and so had my closet.
First smell: Fruity, berries, smells like what I think of for Santa Barbara. Definitely strawberry. No wood or anything else. My husband said he smelled spice.
First sips: Dryer than it smells! Some bright fruits. Wish there was more oak, but I prefer Willamette Valley in general. Small bite of acidity.
After a quick decant (30-60 min) Hubby tasted fruit, alcohol, no dryness or tannins. He kept noting the spice flavor of the wine, which I didn’t taste as much.
For dinner, we had a white mushroom pizza with truffle oil, olives, and Caesar salad. The wine was very complimentary, the acidity in particular. It tasted almost sweet with the olives. I think this would hold up well for a table dinner or barbecue. Some sort of funk on the end (in a good way) makes me think it would go well with pork, especially grilled.
Day 2 (ie right now): Similar to last night and held up fine. And surpise! a new, lasting berry finish. I’m also finally getting some of that spice and some vanilla. I like it better day 2. Less round, less mellow, more flavors. Pretty yummy along with breakfast. Not sure this would be as good day 3.
This seems an easy drinker and went well with the food. Nothing fancy or super layered but yummy and likeable. At this price, it’s got great QPR. If we weren’t moving, I’d absolutely be in for a case. I feel like it’s a steal for a solid, easy to drink, multi-noted pinot noir. I’d happily bring this to a dinner party, bring it out when I have friends over, or drink on a week day. Also a solid barbecue wine.
On my phone so I’ll post pics in a bit in case it helps anyone.
Also a HUGE thanks to Alice and Casemates folks for the rat opportunity!
Nice press on the ‘15 and ‘16…which means zippo about this wine
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
2017 Beckon Bien Nacido Pinot Noir from Fetzer Vineyards - $45 = 23.06%
Y’all lost me with the silly “About the Winery” fluff. Nothing about wine, just some blather from a seemingly autogenerated, mission statement prank. I won’t even touch on the wine description. Hope Ty’s work shows up soon. Back to bed here.