Foxen Cuvee "Jeanne Marie" Williamson-Dore Vineyard 2019
Foxen Cuvee "Jeanne Marie" Williamson-Dore Vineyard 2019
This wine is a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre, grown in the Williamson-Doré vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley. The grapes are hand-harvested at separate times, whole berry de-stemmed, and see a cold-soak maceration for 3 days. The wine is aged around 16 months in 2 and 3-year-old large format French and Hungarian oak puncheons.
Ratings
The 2019 Cuvée Jeanne Marie Williamson-Doré Vineyard, Foxen's Grenache-based blend, is elegant, perfumed and super-expressive. Bright red/purplish berry fruit and silky tannins add to its considerable charm. The Cuvée is not the most overt of Foxen's Rhône reds, but it is one of the most striking. Range: 95-97
- October, 2021, Antonio Galloni
Moving to the Rhône blends and Syrah, the 2019 Cuvée Jeanne Marie Williamson-Doré Vineyard checks in as 69% Grenache and 31% Syrah that was brought up in larger 500-liter barrels. It has tons of ripe cherry and raspberry fruits to go with notes of peppery herbs, leather, and some floral notes. Medium-bodied on the palate, this ripe, pleasure-bent, balanced beauty is well worth seeking out.
- August, 2022, Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes
red, purple fruit
ripe cherry
blood orange
dried herbs, some floral
soft tanins
VARIETAL COMPOSITION Sangiovese, Merlot
REGION California
COUNTRY United States
APPELLATION(S) Santa Ynez Valley
PROPRIETORS Bill Wathen and Dick Doré
FOUNDED 1985
WINEMAKER Bill Wathen and David Whitehair
Bill Wathen and Dick Doré have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen Winery at the historic Rancho Tinaquaic in northern Santa Barbara County. Their dedication has remained the same since the founding - the creation of very small-production, vineyard-designated wines using a "minimalist" approach to winemaking.
The winery is named in memory of William Benjamin Foxen, an English sea captain and Dick's great-great grandfather, who came to Santa Barbara in the early 1800s. In 1837, this Santa Barbara County pioneer purchased the Rancho Tinaquaic, a Mexican Land Grant that originally totaled nearly 9,000 acres and comprised most of what is now known as Foxen Canyon. Captain Foxen adopted the distinctive "anchor" as his ranch cattle brand, which has become a trademark of the winery. It is very fitting that Foxen Winery makes its home on the 2,000-acre Rancho Tinaquaic that remains in family hands.
"Simply put, I can't recommend these wines highly enough". - Antonio Galloni, July 2014
