2013 Foxen Chardonnay Tinaquaic Vineyard
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2013 Chardonnay Tinaquaic Vineyard is superb. Rich, dense and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2013 boasts exceptional depth and fabulous overall balance. Lemon oil, white flowers and almonds add shades of complexity on the finish. This dry-farmed site often yields wines of notable pedigree, as is the case once again in 2013.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
More muted aromatics than the 2012. Less assertive palate than the 2012. However, the wine also feels more approachable as the acidity feels softer here. Notes of lemon curd, fresh lemon, eucalyptus, and white pepper. Persistent lingering finish. Vibrant mid palate and a spicy finish. (ECB)
Dry farmed and half ambient yeast. Own rooted. Grown on a mesa. Very very little new oak and no malolactic. Salty and racy. Fast fade. (JR)
More ripe, yet still classy and elegant, the 2013 Chardonnay Tinaquaic Vineyard has plenty of white peach, pineapple, leafy herbs and mint to go with a medium-bodied, nicely textured style on the palate. It too was barrel-fermented and is aging in 20% new French oak. Coming from clay and sandy loam soils, and dry-farmed vines, it should drink nicely for 3-4 years after the vintage. I was blown away by these new Pinot Noir releases from Foxen, and they’re up near the top of the vintage. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same with regards to the Rhone blends, and these had superficial, mid-weight profiles geared for near-term drinking. As to the Bordeaux blends, these come from the eastern most AVA in Santa Barbara County and are labeled under the Foxen 7200 label. Tel. (805) 937-4251; www.foxenvineyard.com