2021 Foxen Tinaquaic Vineyard Chardonnay [V94][JS93][WE93]

Producer: Foxen Vineyard  
Region: Santa Maria Valley, Central Coast, California 
Varietal: Chardonnay 
Year: 2021 

Retail Price: $44.00 
Our Price: $19.99* 

Foxen is an icon of Santa Barbara.  Bill Wathen and Dick Doré has been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen.  Since then, Foxen has become known for its terroir-driven, small-production, sustainably-farmed wines.  Foxen helped put Santa Barbara on the map.  They specialize in elegant Burgundy, Rhone and Loire-style wines.  Foxen launched into stardom after the movie Sideways.  Their tasting room was a filming location for the film and has since become a must-see destination for wine lovers.  Vinous writes, "Foxen remains a beacon for artisan quality in Santa Barbara, and the United States, for that matter."  They also write that Foxen wines are "some of the most compelling wines I taste anywhere in the world."  These are world-class wines that routinely overdeliver.  The 2021 Foxen Tinaquaic Vineyard Chardonnay is a powerful, layered white.  It has serious textural intensity and pure power.  It's rounded, medium to full-bodied and has ample length on the finish.  This is another gorgeous Chardonnay from Foxen with aromas of lemon zest, pomelo and yellow apple.  It's lush with a rounded mouthfeel.  On the palate, there are flavors of lemon oil, white honey, pear, vanilla bean, orange zest, lemon verbena, white stone, orchard fruits, apricot, orange blossom and dried flowers.  This is one of the most distinctive Chardonnays in Santa Barbara.  Enjoy!

Vinous, 94 Points 

"The 2021 Chardonnay Tinaquaic Vineyard Estate Grown - Dry Farmed is another powerful, layered white in this range from Foxen. Apricot pit, sage, dried flowers, chamomile and tangerine inflections lend nuance, but the 2021 is above all a wine of serious textural intensity and pure power. It remains one of the most distinctive Chardonnays in Santa Barbara." 

Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Points 

"Another Santa Maria release, the 2021 Chardonnay Tinaquaic Vineyard has more orchard fruits and orange blossom nuances as well as a rounded, medium to full-bodied style on the palate. It’s balanced, has a great mouthfeel, and has ample length on the finish. It’s going to drink nicely for 5-7 years." 

Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points 

"Lemon zest, pomelo rind and yellow apple aromas are cut by a streak of crushed stone on the nose of this bottling. The palate is incredibly taut, with white stone, lemon peel and orange zest flavors that evolve in the mouth and as the wine sits open. Drink over two days for an eye-opening experience." 

Winemaker Notes: 

"Another gorgeous Chardonnay by Foxen, this time the 2021 Tinaquaic Vineyard showcases a medium shimmering lemon core with a watery rim in the glass. Refreshing aromas of white linen, lemon oil, white honey-coated pear, vanilla bean, and a touch of lemon verbena are all present. It rests for 8 months in 24% new French oak, which gives it that lush and rounded mouthfeel, complementing the toasted baking spices and apricot goodness. Almost 900 cases were made. " 

Alcohol: 13.3% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Discounts do not apply to wines like this one currently on sale.