Foxen Vineyard & Winery

     Thursday February 16, 2017

Reservations Closed
Course Pairing / Description Wine
Hors D' Oeuvres Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder Quesadilla (Granny Smith Apple, Smoked Bacon and Tarragon Chutney) Smoked Salmon & Dill Canape (Whole Grain Toast Point, Caviar and Mustard-Seed White Wine Gastrique)
The Foxen Chenin Blanc is sourced from the Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. This vineyard is named for Dick’s great uncle, Ernesto Wickenden and dates back to 1966 when it was planted by Dick’s cousin Buddy Wickenden, from budwood brought down from the Napa Valley. The three acre Chenin Blanc site is a small terrace of Elder sandy loam above Tepusquet Creek, which divides the East and West Tepusquet Bench. Because of its lower elevation, Ernesto Wickenden vineyard is protected from the afternoon coastal winds, so it gets a bit more heat summation. The wine is bright and lively and displays notes of citrus, pear and melon, with a long clean “minerally” finish. This very distinctive Chenin Blanc earned 89-91 Points from Antonio Galloni, Vinous.
Foxen Chenin Blanc 2014
Salad Course Plant City Strawberry-Arugula & Endive Salad (Pancetta, Shaved Romano Cheese, Roasted Peach-Basil Vinaigrette)
The Foxen Chardonnay is sourced from the Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. Original plantings in this vineyard were in the early 1970’s. Many of the original blocks then were interplanted with more vines in the 1990’s and 2000’s. The vineyard sits at the western edge of the Santa Maria Bench, with alluvial terraces and hills above the Sisquoc River. Summer daytime temperatures there are moderated by coastal fog and cool ocean breezes, which extend grape “hang time”. The soils are deep and many layered, ranging from Shedd silty clay loams on shale at the higher elevations to alluvium Elder loam on shale at the lower elevations. Foxen both leases acreage and purchases rows by the ton at Bien Nacido Vineyard. This wine is distinguished by beautiful tropical and citrus aromas that are followed by a rich full mouthfeel and flavors of grapefruit, pineapple and mango, notes of minerality and just a hint of toasty vanilla. Malo-lactic fermentation is discouraged to help this wine retain its natural bright acidity that beautifully balances the richness of the mouthfeel. This quirky Chardonnay earned 95 Points from Antonio Galloni, Vinous.
Foxen Chardonnay 2014
Poultry Course Crispy Fried Duck Wings (Madeira Melted Sweet Onions, Tabasco Butter, Goat Cheese Crumbles, Organic Micro Celery Shoots and Pinot Reduction)
The Foxen Pinot Noir – Santa Maria Valley is their most fruit forward Pinot Noir. The pinot grape for this bottling comes most prominently from Foxen’s five-acre Pommard Clone section at Bien Nacido Vineyard. In addition, they also blend into it, more fruit from some of their other favorite blocks at the Bien Nacido, Riverbench and Solomon Hills Vineyards. This wine was bottled after ten months in second-year French barrels to preserve its bright red, summer fruit flavors and spice components. This wine earned 90 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 91 Points from Wine Enthusiast.
Foxen Santa Maria Pinot Noir 2014
Beef Course Peppercorn & Rosemary Roasted Angus Striploin (Buttermilk and Chive Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes, Pinot Reduction With Asparagus and Matchstick Carrots)
The John Sebastiano Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills was planted in 2007 and is named for the vineyard’s two proprietors, John Wagner and Sebastian Sterpa. The vineyard has 150 acres planted, of which 104 acres are Pinot Noir composed of 48 distinct and unique situations. Foxen was invited to watch the groundbreaking and development of this site and were able to pick their clones and blocks prior to planting. The Vineyard is located on the extreme eastern edge of the Santa Rita Hills appellation. Soils there are clay-loam underlaid by limestone and vary greatly in depth due to the nature of the slopes and swales. This wine is tangy black cherry with bright acidity. It is lively, crisp and racy with a lovely style and balance. It received 95 Points from Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points from Tasting Panel Magazine and 93 Points from Wine Advocate.
Foxen Sebastiano Vineyards Pinot Noir 2014
Dessert Course Blackberry & Dark Chocolate Napoleon (Puff Pastry Triangles, Clove Scented Whipped Cream, Dark Chocolate Brownie Chunks, Blackberries, And Salted Red Wine-Brown Butter Caramel)
The Foxen Range 30 West is sourced from Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, which sits on the eastern reaches of the Santa Ynez Valley. Vogelzang Vineyard is an 80 acre gem there that was planted in 1998. It sits in the heart of the Happy Canyon appellation and has been the bread and butter for Foxen’s 7200 wine program since 2000. The planted varietal blocks there are a mix of old and younger vines. The soils are gravelly loam, cobbled with chert and serpentine. Like all of Happy Canyon, there are huge diurnal temperature swings from hot daytime to cool nighttime, sometimes 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit in the course of the summer. This wine is 54% Merlot from Vogelzang Vineyard and 46% Cabernet Franc from Vogelzang and Starlane Vineyards, both in Happy Canyon. “Range 30 West” is the U.S. Geographical Survey designation for this area of Happy Canyon where Foxen sources their Bordeaux varietals. The individual components were blended prior to bottling after aging in French oak barrels (70% new) for 22 months. The resulting wine is a savory blend of red velvet cake, dusty cocoa and plum cake aromas that are very inviting. On the palette, there is a mouthful of red currant, cherry and chocolate, that are all enveloped in smooth tannins. This wine earned 93 Points from Wine Enthusiast.
Foxen 7200 Range 30 West Bordeaux 2013