2016 Chardonnay, Edna Valley
Source: Wine Enthusiast • September 2018 • 91 Points
Salted apple and white peach aromas meet with a lemony edge, hint of toast and flash of sandalwood on the nose of this bottling. There is strong energy to the sip, where tangy waves of lemon candy meet with warmer flavors of pan-seared apple.
- Matt KettmannSource: Vinous • January 2019 • 90 Points
(27% new French oak) Light yellow. Aromas of ripe peach, poached pear and honey, along with subtle floral and oak spice notes. Smooth and broad on the palate, offering gently sweet orchard and pit fruit flavors that pick up a vanilla accent on the back half. Closes on a smoky note, displaying repeating spiciness and clinging pear character.
- Josh Raynolds2015 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard
*Source: Wine Spectator• June 2018* 90 Points
A lithe white, with supple white fruit and spice flavors that feature flinty accents. The buttery finish is long and rich-tasting. Drink now through 2021. 194 cases made.—K.M.
2014 Chardonnay, Edna Valley
*Source: Wine Enthusiast • September 2016 • Editors' Choice* 91 Points
Steve Dooley has championed this region since 1994, and this appellation blend is another strong argument. Aromas of sour tangerines, tangy pear, sea salt and hints of quinine are leveled by the slightest touch of brown sugar on the nose. The palate is dusted lightly with vanilla and offers ripe cherimoya and pear-custard flavors, bound together by steely, crisp minerality.
2014 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyards
*Source: Wine Enthusiast • September, 2016 * 93 Points
Mexican lime, crushed chalk, light jasmine, daffodil and lemon-lime soda show on the nose of this bottling by veteran Steve Dooley. Tight cement and lime-rind flavors pop on the palate, where a sharp kumquat quality dissects the Bosc-pear warmth and the nuanced influence of damp dill and other green herbs.
2013 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyards
Source: Vinous • September, 2015, 91 Points
Pale, green-tinged gold. Smoky, mineral-accented aromas of yellow apple, iodine, jasmine and lemon zest. Juicy and pliant, with bracing acidity and chalky mineral character enlivening its ripe citrus and orchard fruit flavors. A refreshingly bitter lime pith quality adds lift and bite to the long, focused, penetrating finish. - Josh Raynolds
2013 Chardonnay, Edna Valley
Source: Vinous • September, 2015, 90 Points
Light yellow-gold. Fragrant, mineral-accented scents of fresh pear, jasmine and honey, plus an enlivening hint of ginger. Spicy orchard and citrus fruit flavors are given lift and focus by tangy minerality and pick up a fennel nuance with air. This penetrating wine finishes with strong cling. - Josh Raynolds
2012 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyards
Source: Wine Enthusiast, September, 2014, 91 Points
There's slight buttercream alongside nectarine, Gala apple and just-ripe melon in this offering from Central Coast veteran Stephen Ross Dooley, who sourced the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard for this wine. Once sipped, the balance between Key lime pie flavors, present but not overly brisk acidity, and a tad of bit-terness emerges. Pair with cedar-planked salmon topped with mango salsa. - M.K.
2012 Chardonnay, Edna Valley
Source: Wine Enthusiast, September, 2014
Glazed apple and pineapple sorbet frame the nose on this offering from Central Coast veteran Stephen Ross Dooley, who makes his wine in one of San Luis Obispo's only urban wineries. The wine is very full and soft on the palate, with round, traditional Chardonnay flavors and a satis-fying balance between ripe, rich fruit and lingering acidity. The finishing flavors feel more oak-derived than acidity-fueled. Cellar Selection. - M.K.
2011 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyards
Wine Enthusiast, October, 2013 - 92 pts. It's hard to define minerality in a wine, but this Chardonnay has it. It tastes and feels like a lick of chalky stone. That's on top of and below the intricate pineapple, orange and Meyer lemon fruit that's so delicious, and finishes dry and spicy. - S.H.
2010 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyards
Wine Spectator, June 30, 2012 - 89 pts. Tangy tangerine and nectarine flavors give this a refreshing, vibrant, mouthwatering fruit presence. Sleek and understated, this retains its vibrancy. Drink now through 2019. 201 cases made. - J.L.
Wine Enthusiast - 92 points
2010 Chardonnay - Santa Barbara County
Wine Enthusiast - 89 points
2009 Chardonnay - Santa Barbara County
Wine Enthusiast, December, 2011 - 90 point. Editor's Choice. Zesty acidity gives the perfect lift to this rich Chardonnay. It brims with flavors of pineapples, mangoes, limes, buttered toast, vanilla and cinnamon spice. - S.H.
2009 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyards
Wine Enthusiast, December, 2011 - 88 points. A rich, full-bodied, oaky Chardonnay, with the pleasing texture of cream. It's spicy and very flavorful in pears, mangoes, vanilla custard and buttered toast. Could be a little livelier, though. - S.H.
2008 Chardonnay - Edna Valley
Wine Enthusiast, May, 2011 - 92 points. A deliciously complex Chardonnay, nearly as good as the winery's single-vineyard wines, which makes it a great value. Smooth and clean, it shows vanilla cream,pineapple tart, Key lime pie and buttered toast flavors. Vibrant acidity keeps it all uplifted and bright. Editors' Choice. -S.H.
2008 Chardonnay - Oliver's Vineyard
Wine Enthusiast, May, 2011 - 92 points. Very fine, showing the class of this vineyard, at a great price. Although the wine is thoroughly dry, it's vast in pineapple and lime fruit, with a minerally tang from the terroir and
rich, sweet buttered toast and vanilla notes from oak barrel aging. The minerality reprises throughout, giving the wine a steely authority. Editors' Choice. -S.H.
2008 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyards
Wine Enthusiast, May, 2011 - 90 points. Lots to like in this Chardonnay. It's enormously rich in pineapple, mango and lemon meringue pie flavors, with vanilla and buttered toast from oak. Shows the smooth dryness and crisp
acidity of Bien Nacido. A rich, savory wine to drink now. -S.H.
2007 Chardonnay – Bien Nacido Vineyards
Wine Enthusiast, September, 2009 - 88 points. Custardy and yeasty, with tropical fruit, Meyer lemon and mineral flavors, accented with a strong taste of slightly bitter lees. - S.H.
2007 Chardonnay - Edna Valley
Wine Spectator, July 2009 - 90 pts. Ripe and full-bodied, with sweetish, fig, honeydew melon, green apple and spice. Focused and balanced, ending with a long finish. Drink now through 2011. - J.L.
2007 Chardonnay – Oliver’s Vineyard
Wine Enthusiast, November, 2009 - 91 points. This is a fair price to pay for a wine of this pedigree. The vineyard is owned by Talley, and the wine shows the brilliant acidity and fruit of Edna Valley. Massive and complex in grilled pineapples, ripe kiwis, butter, vanilla, spices and smoky oak. - S.H.
2006 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyards
Wine Enthusiast June, 2008, 92 points. Shows the concentration and richness that this famed vineyard gives to almost every variety it grows. Pineapples, pears, sweet green apples and more exotic flavors of papayas mingle with the smoky caramel of oak, in an unusually concentrated way that's brilliantly balanced with crisp acidity. - S.H.
Wine Spectator, July 31, 2008, 87 points.
2006 Chardonnay - Edna Valley
Wine Enthusiast June, 2008, 86 points. Here's a straightforward Chardonnay, with potent fruit and the crisp acidity of this cool, coastal region. The flavors are pure Meyer lemon, lime zest and tangy mineral. - S.H.
Wine Spectator, July 31, 2008, 87 points.
2005 Chardonnay - Edna Valley
Wine Enthusiast, September 1, 2007 - 91 points: Silky and crisp, with those long, penetrating Edna Valley flavors of ripe kiwis, Key lime pie and intense vanilla. Shows real elegance and flair, and this is a good price for the quality.
2005 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyard
Wine Enthusiast, September 1, 2007 - 91 points: Give this youthful wine some time to settle down. Tasted in late March, its parts had yet to mesh. The acidity, oakiness and fresh grapy flavors are at some odds with each other. By winter of 2007, it should be a fine, complex Chardonnay, and drink wellfor five years.
2004 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyard
Wine Enthusiast, March 2006 - 90 pts. There's a minerality to this wine that makes it angular and steely clean, despite well-ripened peach and pineapple flavors. It has a smooth, creamy texture and good acidity for balance, not to mention a rich coat of oak.
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, April, 2006 - 90 pts - Exceptional
2004 Chardonnay - Edna Valley
Wine Enthusiast, March 2006 - 89 pts. Classic Edna Valley Chard, bright and zippy in acidity, with rich, purely etched flavors of Key lime pie and toasty oak. This sophisticated wine has a long, spicy finish
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, April, 2006 - 88 pts - Highly Recommended
2003 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyard
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, April, 2005 - 91 pts - Exceptional. Brilliant yellow hue. Honey, toasted almond, pear and vanilla aromas. Medium-full with excellent concentration, this is a ripe and lush Chardonnay that is very appealing. There is beautiful structure and the finish is extremely long with great persistence of fruit, lively acidity, nicely integrated oak and a light touch of spice. Delicious, especially with grilled seafood! (Tasted on February 1, 2005)
Wine Enthusiast, March 2006 - 86 pts. Extracted and soft, this single-vineyard Pinot has a full-bodied mouthfeel framing cherry, coffee, blackberry and cassis flavors. It tastes almost like a Cabernet, except for the silky texture. Heavy now, but it might lighten up in a few years.
2003 Chardonnay - Edna Valley
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, April, 2005 - 89 pts - Highly Recommended. Brilliant straw-yellow hue. Pear, vanilla, honey and lemon oil aromas. Medium-full with very good concentration, this is a delicious Chardonnay with a finish offering lively acidity, fine persistence of fruit, nicely
integrated oak and a light touch of spice. (tasted on February 1, 2005)
Wine Spectator, May 31, 2005 - 86 points, Very good, a wine with special qualities. Core fruit flavors are built around creamy fig, pear and nectarine. A touch of hazelnut and nutmeg seasoning adds a nice flavor dimension.
Wine News, June/July 2005 - 87 points. White gold hue. Light citrus and floral scents. Sweet, toasty flavors of peach and cream show a metallic bite. Sweetness prevails in the finish.
2002 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyard
Wine & Spirits Magazine, April, 2005 - 92 pts., Top 10 Chardonnays of the Year. Stephen Dooley preserved the fresh complexities of Bien Nacido fruit in this chardonnay, in scents of apple blossom, in flavors of pear and peach, in the satisfying contrast between an austere structure and rich texture. All the dry, gentle fruit would fill in the grain of a thick cut veal chop; or age this and let the flavors develop further
2002 Chardonnay - Edna Valley
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, April, 2004 - 89 pts - Highly Recommended. Brilliant straw hue. Apple peel, pear, hyacinth and subtle oak aromas. Medium-full with very good concentration, this is a typically subtle and elegantly made offering from this premier Chardonnay estate. Not a big wine, but one that is harmonious and seamless. (tasted on 02/01/2004)
Wine Spectator, June 30, 2004 - 87 points, Very good, a wine with special qualities. Appealing for its ripe, fresh, zesty pear, citrus and green pineapple flavors that give it fruit complexity, though the flavors taper off on the finish. Drink now.
2001 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido
Wine Spectator, January 15, 2004 - 90 pts: Vibrant and lively, with intense, concentrated citrus, pear, quince and orange-lemon blossom scents that give it a tasty range of flavors and a long, lively finish. Drink now through 2007.
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, April, 2004 - 91 pts - Exceptional. Brilliant medium yellow hue. Toasted almond, pineapple, dried earth, turmeric and oak aromas. Medium-full to full-bodied, this is a multilayered wine that has a lovely creaminess on the palate and a long, delicious finish with ripe, spicy, earthy fruit and precise acidity. (tasted on 02/01/2004)
2001 Chardonnay - Edna Ranch
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, April, 2003 - 90 pts - Exceptional. Brilliant straw-yellow hue. Yeast, lemon rind and pineapple aromas. A rich entry leads to a moderately full-bodied palate and a lengthy finish with pretty spiciness and delicacy of fruit highlighted by pinpoint acidity.
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine - September, 2003 - 89 points. Attractive aromas of ripe apples tinged with a touch of white peach and honey give a rich, almost 'unctuous' quality to the nose of this handsome wine, and its somewhat rounded, nicely balanced flavors follow through in fine fashion. Hints of chalk and stones fit well with the tasty yet brisk finish, and the wine is likely to fill out fully over the next year.
Wine & Spirits Magazine, December, 2003 - 92 pts. Dry and austere when first poured, this takes its time opening up to fresh white peach flavors. But when it does open, it seems to glisten and glow, like that peach just cut open in the sun. There's also a crushed mineral acidity to keep it fresh as it ages and evolves. A chardonnay for the cellar, this needs five or six years to begin to show its best.
Wine Spectator, September 15, 2003 - 90 pts: A deliciously rich and creamy style, highlighted by spicy floral, grapefruit, orange blossom and ripe peach flavors that are complex and long on the finish, where the acidity adds backbone. Solid value. Drink now through 2006. 661 cases made.
2000 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyard
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, September, 2002 - 90 pts. "Exceptional." Brilliant yellow-straw hue. White peach, honeysuckle and quince aromas- very exotic! A medium-bodied palate leads to a very long finish that keeps unfolding in the glass. Lovely subtle fruit and balanced acidity are finely tuned in this elegantly made Chardonnay.
Global Vintage Quarterly, October - December, 2002 - 90 pts.
Wine & Spirits Magazine, February, 2003 - 87 pts. Oak meets the salinity of coastal fruit to create a buzz, a little frazzled but firm. The wine has a meaty texture, with flavors of dusty pear and bitter almond, a good choice for a chicken curry.
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, February, 2003 - 88 points. Moderately fruity and fairly lively if not quite as expansive as it might be, the aromas of this nicely make wine are paralleled in tone and timber by ripe, pleasant flavors that show enough fruit to balance against the evident oak and roast grains elements. Its firm finish and medium-intensity aftertaste suggest service with broiled fishes.
2000 Chardonnay - Edna Ranch, Edna Valley
Tastings: The Journal of the Beverage Testing Institute, February, 2002 - 88 pts (Highly Recommended). Brilliant yellow-straw hue. Apple, pear and vanilla aromas. A rich entry leads to a moderately full-bodied palate with a supple mouthfeel and a long, balanced finish with very fine acidity. A great food wine.
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, February, 2003- 87 points. Seemingly a bit riper than its mate at first sniff, then showing a decided citrusy edge to its moderately rich, oak-influenced nose, this wine starts off smooth and supple on the palate, then like its mate, becomes tighter and crisper towards the back. Overall, it is a well-made Chardonnay.
1999 Chardonnay - Edna Ranch
Wine Spectator, July, 2001 - 88 pts. Intense and full of complex flavors of mint, pear, fig and hazelnut, with a hint of flowers. Young and tight, it should evolve nicely. Drink now through 2005.
Beverage Testing Institute, February, 2001 - 85 pts. "Highly Recommended." Deep yellow-straw hue. Rich, ripe creamy, yeasty nose. A crisp entry leads to a zesty, medium-bodied palate. Taut, clean, mildly buttery finish. Drink now or later
1999 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyard
Wine & Spirits, April 2001 - 92 pts. Lively granny smith apple flavors fill this wine with a cool, crisp intensity. Chalky and tight, it makes its presence felt with energy rather than weight or fleshiness, driving to every corner of the mouth with a lifted, orange and lime-like acidity that will perk up any white-fleshed fish. Enjoy this now for its transparent finesse, or put it away for a few years to let the complexity build.
Wine Spectator, July, 2001 - 91 pts. Defines elegance, with subtle yet rich fig, butterscotch, hazelnut and citrus, all woven together nicely, finishing with a long, intricate aftertaste. Drink now through 2005.
Beverage Testing Institute, February, 2001 - 88 pts. "Highly Recommended." Deep yellow-straw hue. Very ripe, creamy melon and grapefruit nose. A crisp entry leads to a spicy medium-bodied palate with a firm edge of acidity. Citrusy, mildly buttery finish. Drink now or later
The Insiders' Wine Line, Fall, 2001; Volume 4, Number 4 - The 1999 Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley has a perfumed bouquet of tropical fruits, citrus, coconut, green apple and vanilla. The flavors of apples, pineapple, pear, peach and cinnamon are complex with good depth followed by a fruity, spicy, vanilla etched finish. 90 points.
1998 Chardonnay - Edna Ranch
2000 Global Vintage Quarterly, Third Quarter - 89 pts. The Insiders' Wine Line, October, 2000 - 88 pts: It has a perfumed nose of tropical fruits, quince, pear, apple and vanilla. The flavors of pineapple, apple, melon and spicy oak are very fresh and bright followed by a long, creamy, fruity finish.
1998 Chardonnay - Bien Nacido Vineyard
The Insiders' Wine Line, October, 2000 - 91 pts: It has a lovely perfumed nose of tropical fruits, red apple, coconut, citrus, cinnamon and minerals. The flavors of pineapple, mango, papaya, lime and vanilla are rich and flavorful followed by a very fruity, crisp finish. Terrific!
2000 Global Vintage Quarterly, Third Quarter - 89 pts