Optik Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2020
-
Tasting
Panel -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This light ruby Pinot Noir has overt and concentrated aromatics of rich red and
black roasted plums, purple fig jam, brandied cherries, and speculoos cookies. A few more glass swirls will release earthy tones of Chinese five-spice, sweet hickory, and fall hay.
Flavors of ripe raspberry, strawberry jam, Black Strap Molasses, and Port wine reduction are layered nicely in this Pinot Noir. In addition, it offers some earthy
tones of moist soils and eucalyptus with a long smoky finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Tasting Panel
Aged 11 months in (35% new) French oak, this wine is a floral delicacy. Roses reside with tobacco leaf while brushing up against raspberry, red apple, and clove. Spicy cinnamon candy lingers on the palate, subdued by cherry bark, licorice, and rhubarb. Its inherent elegance and alignment of toast, acid, and earth certainly speak to its site.
-
Wine Spectator
A light, piercing and slightly high-toned version, with tobacco leaf and tarragon accents that are quickly caught from behind by bitter cherry, pomegranate seed and blood orange flavors. Very racy, taut acidity lines the finish. Best from 2023 through 2028.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of crushed stone, flint, baked raspberry, bright pomegranate and spicy clove make for a layered nose on this bottling. The palate offers hints of light herb, sandalwood and flashes of raspberry.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard is another good value and offers bright cherry and strawberry fruits to go with background spice, floral, and dried herb aromatics. Nicely textured and medium-bodied, with ripe tannins, drink this incredibly charming, forward Pinot Noir over the coming 3-5 years.
Other Vintages
2021-
Wine &
Spirits -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Tasting
Panel -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.