2022 Foxen - Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley Block UU Bien Nacido (750ml)

Foxen Winery was founded on Rancho Tinaquaic, a nearly 9,000-acre Mexican land grant purchased in 1837 by Captain William Benjamin Foxen, an English sea captain and ancestor of the winery's founders. The estate remains in family hands today on the same 2,000-acre property, where the winery has stayed committed to small-production, single-vineyard wines made with a minimalist approach. That philosophy, prioritizing site expression over cellar manipulation, has defined Foxen's reputation as one of Santa Barbara County's most respected producers of cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Block UU sits at the eastern edge of the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard, planted in 1973 with Clone 4 on its own roots, making it one of the oldest and most distinctive parcels within this celebrated Santa Maria Valley site. The old vines produce naturally low yields of concentrated, high-toned fruit. Grapes are hand harvested and whole cluster pressed, then fermented entirely in barrel before resting on the lees for about eight months, a process that builds texture without masking the vineyard's inherent tension. Around a quarter of the barrels used are new French oak puncheons, applied with a light touch to preserve the wine's cool climate clarity.

The 2022 Block UU shows starfruit, ripe nectarine, and fresh lime over a base of salty, diatomaceous minerality. The palate is smooth and silky, with real depth and concentration balanced by bright acidity. It pairs nicely with grilled halibut, roast chicken, or fresh oysters on the half shell.