FOXEN Newsletter
January 2017
Dear Compass Club Members, Happy New Year! As I write this newsletter we are in the midst of a series of wet winter storms that are bringing California much needed rain. Although we have a very long way to go to refill our reservoirs and water basins, so far it has been a very good and hopeful beginning to 2017. The recent rains have turned our hills emerald green and produced a bumper cover crop in our vineyards--presently being eagerly munched on by our two lambs, Ewe2 and Bono. And in between rain storms in January, our vineyard farming crew began their very important work of pruning the dormant grapevines. Billy and our winemaker David Whitehair have now moved into the quieter activity of nurturing our newly barreled wines from the 2016 vintage and preparing for our first bottling of 2017: the 2015 single-vineyard pinots in mid-March. Jenny is still adding library wine to our “cruise pallet” in preparation for this summer’s Rhône River Wine Cruise on Uniworld’s six-star SS Catherine, July 16-23, Avignon to Lyon. Watch for more details about the optional land excursions, including a three-day, pre-cruise Paris/Champagne package and two additional optional excursions in the Rhône wine region. For more details, please call Food and Wine Trails at 1-800-367-5348, or go to www.foodandwinetrails.com/foxen2017. If you’d like additional information or have questions, please feel free to contact Jenny at
[email protected]. This river cruise is going to be a blast, and we hope some of you can join us. And, back by popular demand, our “Roots Tastings” of specially selected library wine began in January. We feature a flight of three hand-selected library wines paired with a small cheese and charcuterie plate. These special library wines are available for tasting at the winery on Thursdays and Fridays, and will continue through February--or while supplies last. For more information, please call our tasting room at (805) 937-4251, or email simone@foxenvineyard. com. As always, I encourage you to periodically check out our events calendar at www.foxenvineyard. com/experience-foxen/events/ for information about other happenings at the winery and on the road. We wish you a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2017!
Cheers! Dick Doré
January 2017 Payment Detail Compass Club Shipping Members: $78.35 (including your 15% discount, CA state tax, and CA shipping) Compass Club Pickup: $57.83 (including your 15% discount and CA state tax) Your state tax and/or shipping rate may be different depending on your location. Pick-up members are not charged a shipping fee.
FOXEN Vineyard & Winery • 7600 FoxenCanyon Rd • Santa Maria, CA • 93454 • Tel. 805.937.4251 • foxenvineyard.com
Calendar of Events
January 2017
February 12th, 2017- Food Truck and Live Music - Foxen Tasting Room Santa Maria, CA
Starting February 12th and continuing every second Sunday of each month, we will have live music and a food truck on property from 1pm-4pm. The first “FOXEN Second Sunday” will feature live music by Bradley Tyson, and Javed Kabab Paradise food truck will be onsite with delicious Pakistani and Indian Fusion food available for purchase. For more information contact our Events Coordinator, Micaela Buchanan at
[email protected]
March 3rd & 4th - World of Pinot Noir - The Bacara Resort and Spa -Santa Barbara, CA
This annual event takes place at the beginning of March and includes two days of in-depth tasting seminars, excursions, Grand Tastings, a Burgundy seminar and tasting, and gourmet, locally-influenced lunches and dinners. These extraordinary food and wine extravaganzas will be hosted by participating wineries and feature an outstanding panel of sommeliers from across the U.S. Join Dick and Jenny for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, March 4th. For tickets and more information, go to: http://www.worldofpinotnoir.com/
July 16 - July 23, 2017 - Foxen Rhône River Wine Cruise - Avignon to Lyon.
We’re doing another cruise...and this time solo! Dick and Jenny are taking a group of our FOXEN wine lovers up one of France’s most beautiful rivers, the Rhône, on a 7-night river cruise. See picturesque villages up close as you slowly cruise by on Uniworld’s SS Catherine. Selected by Cruise Critic in 2015 as the Editor’s Choice for the best river cruise line, Uniworld offers an all-inclusive experience that includes complimentary beverages and shore excursions. Enjoy a selection of our award winning Pinot Noir and Rhône-style wines during a seminar and tasting and served with dinner on the first six evenings of the cruise. Listen to what past Food &Wine Trails cruiser, D. Hochberger, had to say about his 2015 FOXEN wine cruise: “Foxen went out of their way to be unbelievable hosts and are great people. It was unbelievable how much wine they provided at all tastings and get-togethers. They made the cruise!!” Join us next summer for this fabulous FOXEN wine cruise! Contact Food and Wine Trails at (800) 367-5348 | info@ foodandwinetrails.com
A Note from the Wine Club Team Many of you already know that Wine Club Manager, Katie Longoria and her husband, James, had a baby girl last month. And therefore, she will be on maternity leave for awhile. While Katie is on leave, Moselle and Sean will be handling all Wine Club matters. Moselle can be reached at 805-937-4251 ext 107 or wineclub@ foxenvineyard.com and Sean is reachable by calling FOXEN at 805-937-4251 ext 113. His email is sean@ foxenvineyard.com. Cheers! Moselle Barnett & Sean Hite | Wine Club Team FOXEN Vineyard & Winery • 7600 Foxen Canyon Rd • Santa Maria, CA • 93454 • Tel. 805.937.4251 • foxenvineyard.com
Billy’s Winemaker Notes
January 2017
2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Vogelzang Vineyard, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara:
Happy Canyon is quickly gaining recognition for world class Sauvignon Blanc and red Bordeaux varietal wines. The Vogelzang Vineyard was one of the pioneers in this relatively new AVA, planted in 1998, and is a major source of these varietals for our “7200” label. Foxen has two Sauvignon Blanc sites at Vogelzang: a bit over one acre of Clone 1, and slightly more than a half acre of Musque Clone. These two clones are harvested and pressed off separately, the juice cold settled for 36-48 hours, then barreled down to one, two and three-year old French oak puncheons. Fermentation is spontaneous (no commercial yeast), and there is no induced malo-lactic fermentation. The wine is blended and cold stabilized after eight months, and is then bottled after a light filtration. Yields in 2015 were very light—small clusters and small berries—which all contribute to intense tropical aromas and flavors. The resulting wine displays loads of passion fruit, guava, lychee and white pineapple— all braced by ample, natural acidity. I recently enjoyed this wine with diver scallop ceviche with ginger and mint on a bed of cantaloupe. In addition, I recommend pairing it with grilled trout stuffed with shrimp, served with pineapple salsa. For a vegetarian option, try something with savory and tart elements—like zucchini fritters with cilantro lime sauce. Drink now through 2022. • 90 Points - Wine Enthusiast PRODUCTION: 280 cases | RETAIL PRICE: $28 | COMPASS CLUB PRICE: $23.80
2014 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley:
Over the years, this wine has become our flagship Pinot Noir. Our 2014 vintage is comprised of a blend of fruit from our Santa Maria Bench source (Bien Nacido Vineyard), with the addition of fruit from south of the Sisquoc River (Riverbench and Solomon Hills Vineyards.) The soils off “the Bench” produce Pinot Noir with aromas and flavors of red summer fruits (think strawberries and raspberries) and “hard-spice” (cinnamon, clove and cardamon), while the lighter soils south of the river produce more earthy and soft-spice aromas and flavors. This Pinot Noir clonal mix is a hodge-podge: 38% Pommard, 27% Dijon, 26% Waudensvil (2A), and 9% Swan. The clonal components from each vineyard are picked, fermented, and barreled down separately (this amounts to 11 distinctive lots) into 100% French oak barrels, none of which were new. The wine was then blended after 10 months, and is bottled without any fining or filtration. It exudes telltale Santa Maria fruit: strawberries, bing and black cherry, plum, cardamom, clove, bark, and sassafras—all enclosed in soft, supple tannins. My go-to simple food pairing for this wine is rich, savory Eppoises cheese and a fresh baguette. It also matches well with lamb burgers on brioche buns, topped with aged gouda, arugula and bacon jam. And salmon (cooked any way) is a no-brainer. Drink now through 2024. • 91 Points - Wine Enthusiast • 90 Points - Robert Parker, Jr’s Wine Advocate PRODUCTION: 4000 cases | RETAIL PRICE: $35 | COMPASS CLUB PRICE: $29.75 FOXEN Vineyard & Winery • 7600 Foxen Canyon Rd • Santa Maria, CA • 93454 • Tel. 805.937.4251 • foxenvineyard.com
FOXEN
V I N E YA R D & W I N E R Y
January 2017 Current Releases
FOXEN Retail Compass (15%) 2014 Chenin Blanc, Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard $25 $21.25 2013 Chenin Blanc, “Good Year” Ernesto Wickenden $45 $38.25 2014 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley** $35 $29.75 2013 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills $38 $32.30 2013 Pinot Noir, Julia’s Vineyard $64 $54.40 2013 Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard $62 $52.70 2013 Pinot Noir, John Sebatiano Vineyard $48 $40.80 2013 Pinot Noir, Block 8 - Bien Nacido Vineyard $62 $52.70 2014 Pinot Noir, Block 43 - Bien Nacido Vineyard $60 $51.00 2013 Cuvée Jeanne Marie, Williamson-Doré Vyd $40 $34.00 2013 Syrah, Toasted Rope $44 $37.40 2013 Syrah, Williamson-Doré Vineyard $46 $39.10 2013 Syrah, Tinaquaic Vineyard $48 $40.80 2013 Sweet Ending, Late Harvest Wine (375ml) $30 $25.50 foxen 7200 Retail Compass (15%) 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Vogelzang Vineyard $28 $23.80 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Vogelzang Vineyard** $28 $23.80 2013 Guillermo Grosso, Santa Ynez Valley $34 $28.90 2013 Range 30 West, Happy Canyon of SB $44 $35.70 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mamére Vyd $100 $85.00 2013 Cabernet Franc, Tinaquaic Vineyard $48 $40.80 2013 Sangiovese, Williamson-Doré Vyd $42 $35.70 2013 Mission, Barbarena Vineyard (375ml) $30 $25.50 **included in shipment** TOTAL: ______
TO PURCHASE WINES Order Online Today store.foxenvineyard.com Email
[email protected] Fax | Phone 805-937-0415 | 805-937-4251 x107 Mail Moselle Barnett c/o FOXEN Vineyard 7600 Foxen Canyon Rd Santa Maria, CA 93454
Master (20%) Qty
$20.00 _____ $36.00 _____ $28.00 _____ $30.40 _____ $51.20 _____ $49.60 _____ $38.40 _____ $49.60 _____ $48.00 _____ $32.00 _____ $35.20 _____ $36.80 _____ $38.40 _____ $24.00 _____
Master (20%) Qty
$22.40 _____ $22.40 _____ $27.20 _____ $33.60 _____ $80.00 _____ $38.40 _____ $33.60 _____ $24.00 _____ ______
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