It was the best of wines, it was nowhere near the worst of wines.
As I set out on my first trip to the Santa Ynez Valley, since moving back, my sites were set on Foxen, always a favourite of mine.- www.foxenvineyard.com
I hadn’t been there for a good 12 years and the last time was en route to Hollister Ranch, with a dinghy strapped to the roof of a truck. For surfers, we were definitely high brow with our beverages.
Jump to 2010 and the Foxen shack is still standing. A small cabin quite literally on the side of the road, with an even smaller bar, proves that old California charm might be all that is needed to present your wine.
Look for this sign when heading up Foxen Cyn Rd
The shack, or how it is now marketed, foxen 7200 only carries Bordeaux varietals and one “Super Tuscan” all labelled with this new brand.
At foxen 7200, my favourite was the 2007 Grassini Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon for $36 concentrated berry fruit, some liquorice, and overall medium tannin mouthfeel.
New look
But Bordeaux was not what I came for…the very well known Pinot Noir and Rhone varietals that made the winery famous are being poured at the spick and span new winery and tasting room up the road.
The “new” Foxen is most definitely where the good stuff is being poured. The tasting room does not come close to the charm of the shack, but pleasant nonetheless and I believe solar powered. The Burgundy and Rhône varietals are what made this place famous and I was far more satisfied with the range of wines tasted here.
From a vineyard of super high yields
Here are my favs:
The 2007 Rosé of Mourvèdre was a pleasant surprise. This might actually be the first Mourvèdre Rose I’ve ever tasted…and a welcome relief to the usual safe Syrah. It’s a dry rose and full of freshly washed red berry flavours, very crisp and refreshing. Perhaps steep for $25.
The 2008 Mourvèdre from Williamson-Doré Vineyard was very close to being the wine of the day. In fact, if they sold it in regular sized bottles and my accountant wasn’t tasting with me, I would have bought the guy. Great concentration on the nose, lots of blackberry aromas and a very smooth palate. Well worth the$80 asked and only available in magnum. Highly recommended
The 2008 Syrah from Tinaquaic Vineyard was far and beyond my favourite wine of all. Full of lovely chocolate aromas and again some fresh berries, this impressed at first sniff. The palate too was soft and velvety with hints of spice and boysenberries, $46 and a happy purchase.
The best of times.
I must applaud Foxen for the marketing savvy here. If you haven’t been to Foxen for a while, you will have no idea of the new winery…and just head straight to the shack. If you feel curious to taste the other wines, they are only 2 minutes away.
To encourage tasting at both, Foxen has a deal where you can pay $12 and try three wines at each tasting room. Otherwise it’s $10 at each for five wines.
Foxen Winery & Vineyard
7600 Foxen Canyon Road
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 937-4251
FAX: (805) 937-0415
Email: info@foxenvineyard.com
foxen 7200
7200 Foxen Canyon Road
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 937-4251
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
