Foxen pinot noir "block 8" 2020

From one of Santa Barbara County's founding cult estates — a single-block Pinot from the legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard, priced below its release.

Bill Wathen and Dick Doré have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen at the historic Rancho Tinaquaic. "Block 8" is a single parcel within Bien Nacido — the Santa Maria Valley vineyard that reads like a who's-who roster of California Pinot — planted to a mix of clones that gives the wine its restless energy. Just over 600 cases made, 16 months in French oak (42% new).

The math is simple: this is grower-scale, single-block Bien Nacido Pinot from a 40-year benchmark producer. International Wine Report gave it 94 points → we're at $69.99 → that's classified-vineyard California Pinot at neighborhood-bottle money.

• 100% Pinot Noir, multi-clone Block 8 selection
• Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley — Central Coast grand cru in all but name
• 16 months in French oak, 42% new; ~600 cases produced
• Wathen & Doré, four decades at Rancho Tinaquaic

"Bright, punchy and super-expressive… a real feeling of exuberance." — Vinous. Translation: red and purple flowers, huckleberry and Bing cherry, lemony acid keeping it crunchy and alive.

Around 600 cases exist and this is a single block within them — the kind of allocation that doesn't repeat. If you care about where California Pinot actually comes from, Block 8 is exactly how you start.