2019 Foxen Winery Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills 750 ml

Foxen only made 13 barrels of this flagship Pinot Noir, which is a shame, because we wish every Pinot lover in the world could try it. Lush but bright, aromatically explosive, and complex as the day is long, it’s a gorgeous expression of one of the top sites in the Sta. Rita Hills.

Foxen has long been one of the most respected wineries in the region, and founder Bill Wathen has honed his style over the decades to become a true master of Sta. Rita Hills Pinot. Crafted by Wathen and David Whitehair (who was promoted to winemaker in 2016), the mouthfeel is undeniably smooth and silky, with a medium body and enough supple tannins to keep this elegant Pinot in balance.

Fe Ciega sits at the very western end of the Sta. Rita Hills. It’s wedged between Sea Smoke and Domaine de la Côte, where the fog flows in freely from the ocean and keeps things chilly until mid-morning. The site’s proximity to the Pacific, thin clay soils over fractured shale, and gentle southern exposure all combine to produce intensely concentrated grapes. 

The last time we visited, we witnessed Fe Ciega’s magic firsthand. We climbed up a small mesa that looms over the vineyards below, and when we reached the vines, the fog was still thick. We waited. Then, as if on cue, the “sea-smoke” began to lift—and 45 minutes later, the vineyard was aglow, putting the majesty of Fe Ciega into perfect focus.

With this 2019 Fe Ciega, Wathen and Whitehair have done the same thing. We have a small allocation from a tiny overall production, so don’t miss it.