Foxen, Ernesto Wickenden Chenin Blanc Old Vines, Santa Maria Valley

Sooo good w Halibut and steamed broccoli

2013 vintage

Clear gold in the glass. Classic Chenin nose of golden delicious apple and hay; echoed on the palate. Medium full body. Bright acidity. Medium finish. Great with swordfish steak.

2013 vintage

A well made chenin blanc with pear and green apple in the forefront of a clean bodied, medium acidity wine, great on a hot day to cool off the palate to make room for something bolder though this has some good complexity going on.

2013 vintage

Nice bouquet. Crisp tastes of citrus & minerals. Good on a sunny afternoon. Will try it again.

2013 vintage

Dry, fresh, lively, and medium-bodied; with golden apples, melon, white flowers, raw salted almonds, and a vein of citrus riding the minerally middle to a lingering finish. More old vines fruit and not quite as spiced or wooly as some of its European siblings which may be a plus for some (my “anti-spice” wife in this case) -but I’m personally missing those classic qualities. That said, a solid CB in its own right and lovely food wine.

2013 vintage

Our favorite domestic Chenin from one of our favorite producers. Shows the potential for this grape when done on an appropriate site with care and great winemaking. Dry, yet intense in flavor and complexity, showing melon, pear and a touch of Fuji apple, coupled with a light dose of minerality and a snappy finish. Just an all around excellent wine, and one we love to surprise friends with. Truly unique and delicious.

2013 vintage

It was too hot last night to cook, so I made a no-cook Panzanella salad (Tuscan Bread Salad With Garlic and Capers) from a Cook's Illustrated recipe. Foxen's 2013 Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard Chenin Blanc was a great match. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and briefly aged in neutral French oak barrels. A very pretty yellow color. Bright, fresh, with good acidity. Citrus, honeydew melon, pear.

2013 vintage

Consistent with prior notes. The added 6 months or so of bottle time really allows flavors and integration to gel. I'm guessing some good shelf life for this mouthwatering dry Chenin.

2013 vintage

Clean straw in color, with yellow-fruit aromas that translate into a rich palate, showcasing a mélange of white peach, slightly under ripe nectarine and papaya notes, coupled with a bright and refreshing acidity. Delicious, with a lip-smacking finish, and a tremendously good value for this well-made, dry Chenin.

2013 vintage

Lovely, complex and balanced, shows what a California Chenin Blanc should become. Slight cast of yellow in color, pretty aromas of stone fruit lead to a medium-bodied slightly off-dry version with refreshing acidity and a very juicy medium-long finish showing bracing acidity and a touch of mineral.

2013 vintage

A wonderful white wine alternative. We took the Winemaker Billy's advice of long ago and brought this bottle to NOBU in Las Vegas last night to go with some of the sushi and other raw seafood options were it paired very well. Our guests also thought it was fantastic. Well balanced with plenty of acidity. Always one of my favorite wines from the impressive Foxen line up.

2013 vintage

Medium straw color, with pretty aromas of melon and clementine. Palate is rich, but not sweet, with melon, pear and mineral notes. Acidity balances nicely, and finishes medium+, and deliciously. Might be the best new world Chenin Blanc on the planet, and drew raves at the table.

2013 vintage

Couldn't take formal notes, but this was the best bottle of the 08 I've had yet.

2008 vintage

Nice nose of pear, melon, and lemon. Similar flavors on the palate. As opposed to the 07, a tad bit on the acidic side.

2008 vintage

Aromatics of cardamon, ginger and pear, banana peel and assorted spices. Ripe and round in the mouth with a tinge of sweetness. Melon flavors transition to pears as the wine progresses. Underlying spice to the wine as well. A bit bitter on the back end is its main detractor.

2004 vintage

Pears, mineralit, nicely oaked?

2004 vintage

Originally had this at a Foxen wine dinner (Napa Valley Grille/Westwood); tasted it again at the winery last week; finally opened the bottle that came with the wine club shipment with the mussels we prepped for the mussel stock (for a rather elaborate sea bass recipe from the French Laundry cookbook). All three times, my reaction on tasting the wine alone was, "eh", but then I'd taste it with food and it was just perfect. When you're wondering what to …

2004 vintage

Crisp, minerally, chould easily be confussed for a Loire Chenin Blanc. Like the sea in a bottle-sea breeze, sea salt along with lemon zest, mineral and a bit of creamy oak. Nice complexity and very unique wine. Drink now. 89 pts.

2004 vintage

Upon opening I smelled something immediately that reminded me of asian food with the addition of apple , asian pear and nutmeg...very complex...even a touch of ginger ale. On entry this has great weight with similar flavors as the nose, with the addition of a spicy element. There is just enough acid to keep this fresh and not too heavy...I think alot of people will like this while alot will hate this. Its almost gewurtz like in some of its …

2004 vintage

Pineapple, grapefruit, oak, vanilla on the nose. Pallet shows topical fruit, it smooth and finishes with vanilla.

2004 vintage

Complex, inviting nose. On the palate the wine was lively, fresh, and the finish went on and on. One of the better California whites I've had in a long time. Great with PF Changs takeout.

2004 vintage

this is a great wine, drank it with my house mate while we watched TV but it states 14.5% on the label and I defiantly didn't feel it like a 14.2% merlot I had a few days before. Either way, its a tasty wine

2004 vintage

Wonderful wine for our Viatnamese food.

2004 vintage

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Foxen, Ernesto Wickenden Chenin Blanc Old Vines, Santa Maria Valley

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