NEWBIE - Bien Nacido & Solomon Hills Estate - 97, Triple 96, and 95 point wines


Bien Nacido proudly claims to be the United States’ most influential single-vineyard source, with more than 160 producers over 44 years having used “Bien Nacido” on their labels. Only vineyards in Burgundy have been designated more, and I am certain that has something to do with their 700-year history. Having been inspired by this, Steve Miller’s youngest son, Nicholas (Below LEFT, now the fifth generation) decided to make some of their own small-production wines starting in the late 2000s
Bob and Steve Miller (Below RIGHT), members of a fourth-generation farming family, both of whom found this pristine property in 1969 when they were offered two contiguous parcels of land that were part of the original Rancho Tepusquet. With the chance to continue a tradition of farming sustainably and focusing on the highest quality, the two original parcels were reunited and rechristened “Bien Nacido.” Directly (and appropriately) translated as “well-born,” Bien Nacido is about as purebred as vineyards come. The family purchased their other Estate vineyard, Solomon Hills, in the western Santa Maria Valley in 1999.


Bob and Steve saw this land as a perfect home for wine grapes. Santa Maria Valley is technically classified as a “Winkler Region 1b.” This is as cold, in terms of average temperature, as Champagne; the Mosel Valley in Germany; Kremstal in Austria; and Burgundy’s Cote d’Or. Understanding this, the Millers planted the vineyard with the first certified virus-free clones of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from UC Davis in 1973—the “X Block” Syrah followed in 1987.


Bien Nacido & Solomon Hills Estate wines are made to showcase this sustainably farmed terroir by limiting the factors in the winery that would take away from that. All of the Estate wines from both Solomon Hills and Bien Nacido Estate are as traditional as one can get. All of the grapes hail from low intervention, organically farmed grapes, and are brought into a winery with the same model in mind. No yeast inoculations, no filtering or fining, only minimal Sulfur additions. All focused on bringing out the balance of carefully farmed fruit, with passionate winemaking. Total Production for the whole Estate is around 1,700 cases.

****RECENT PRESS


THIS YEAR’S OFFERS ~ ALL PRICED AT WINE CLUB MEMBER PRICING (30% off of retail & $.01 on 6 Bottles or More ~ IF SHIPPING DOESNT DROP ON THE ORDER. I WILL REFUND IMMEDIATELY.)
USE CODE “BD11” for Discounts
HIGHEST SCORES LISTED
CLICK HERE TO BUY…CLICK HERE TO BUY…CLICK HERE TO BUY

12/21/2018 - kosinski Likes this wine:
Aroma: nutty, somewhat phenolic citrus
Palate: crisp and light bodied despite the 100% oak and malolactic. Mostly citrus flavors with some apple. Nuts and spice. Nicely balanced and structured.



5/25/2019 - Willmerson Likes this wine: 99 Points
Pour this alongside a LEflaive or Roulot Puligny and you would have a hard time telling which was which. The wine has 20% new oak, tons of mineral and comes from 45 years old OWN ROOTED chardonnay. The alcohol is below 13 and screams of old world charns.

7/30/2019 - lgomberg Likes this wine: NR
13% abv purchased from tasting room in Los Olivos. This expressed itself after 30+minutes of being popped - probably should have decanted. (Btw 1000 ml Erlenmeyer flask works well for this purpose.) Savory lemon oil, nuanced, clean lees, possibly subtle acacia with a similar savory palate lifted by bright acidity which contributed to a lengthy finish. Accessible and yet still quite young and tense. Barely discernible / apparently neutral oak presence contributed to a nice midpalate as wine comes up in temp. Don’t serve too cold. Like the style here- def moves away from extracted, flabby and oaked Chardonnays.



5/2/2019 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 92 points
Second time having this wine. It is very atypical of CA chardonnay, but I find it very enjoyable. It’s much more Burgundian in style. Very nice bouquet. Palate matches the nose with lots of citrus, as well as some tropical fruit, and lots of mineral, and crushed seashells, yet there is still a touch of oak. Lots going on here. A somewhat briny, tangy, long finish. Really showcases it’s terroir. An interesting and intellectual wine. Great with seafood.

10/12/2019 - lgomberg wrote: 91 points

  • Crimsom color - 10/11/19 with pork shoulder steak grilled over red oak. This really opened up after an hour or more and I should have decanted this wine. Aromatically this was pretty with dark red and blue fruits savory floral notes and earth. On the pallet consistent with aromatics it had medium intensity medium body silky tannins, restrained oak, medium plus length and seem to be in a nice zone for drinking but probably could have benefited from another couple of years. Much more interesting/ enjoyable after an hour, plus of air.



    12/2/2019 - epiphany Likes this wine: 89 points
    Well-made wine and very enjoyable. Appreciate the lower alcohol content.



    4/10/2019 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 points
    Solid built to last. Good fruit, rich. Age worthy at still 5 years old.

12/21/2018 - kosinski Likes this wine: NR
Aroma: berries, roasted chestnuts, cured meat.
Palate: creamy cherry and red berry flavors with notes of nuts, meat and herbs. Balanced acidity. Good structure and length with week-integrated tannin.

5/20/2018 - sbfireman wrote: NR
A well made wine that needs to sleep. The reductive-funk needs to integrate with the fruit and tannins. After several hours of air, more aligned. But I believe that the fruit will take a great place on the stage. Dark fruit and hidden earthy tones.
Must add that some 4 hours later - had the tones of a well made Cornas. Really beautiful. Reinforces the “you should wait even though I didn’t…”


8/27/2019 - Andre Brattland wrote: 95 points

Only local yeast is used during the fermentation process where 30% is whole bunches. The wines are stored in 600 liter barrels made by Damy from Meursault, France for 18 months. 50% of the barrels are new. About. 3000 bottles are made.

Slightly fragile and gentle aromas with clear slimmer fruit image of red perfumed cherries, almost citrusy cut, nectar and pretty flowers. Slightly cautious, yet seductive. The mouthfeel is different.
Here the queen arrives with a sharp touch and lays down like silky feeling. So linear! So fragile! So beautiful! Fantastic fruit quality of red sour cherries, raspberries, sweet spices and the world’s best caramel. A little more minerality from the soil, tighter wood, leather and spices on the finish that breaks with the purity, but the slightly more compact finish also seduces. Great acidity and very good tannin structure. A truly refined and beautiful wine that must be one of California’s best wines made on Pinot Noir. 95 points.

4/3/2019 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 points
Very light color that got darker over time in the glass. Soft nose, good fruit, very well integrated, needs more time or ready to enjoy. More in the cellar.

12/21/2018 - kosinski wrote: NR
Aroma: bread dough and herbs. Orange essence.
Palate: orange zest, almond, meat, leather. Subtle and beguiling. Moderate acidity with good structure and length. Mature tannin.

PERKS!!! PERKS!!! PERKS!!! PERKS!!! PERKS!!! PERKS!!! PERKS!!! PERKS!!! PERKS!!!

For every 18 Bottles Purchased, The Miller Family is going to include an invitation to our summer BBQ exclusive for Members and Berserkers in Santa Maria Valley, CA. This is about 1 Hour north of the heart of Santa Barbara, 1 Hour south of Paso Robles.
You can see the Milky Way clearly most nights of the year, hear the coyotes howl, and watch the red tails hunt for weasels and gophers. Its truly a heaven on earth.


Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Estate - YouTubeWe ship to the following 29 states:
AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA

great to see you here, Will!

Yo that estate syrah is delicious. Don’t sleep on that!!!

Thanks Alan. Happy to be on board again.

Super EXCITED to get this going!

Great site, great team - what’s NOT to get excited about!!!

The code isn’t working for me. Is BD11 the correct discount code?

Working now…when I updated shipping, it wasnt working. Sorry

So the Solomon Hills Chardonnay doesn’t drop in price with the discount code. Still shows up at $45. The rest drop.

The XO Syrah didn’t either.

Sorry about that brent. Should be updated in 30 seconds.

Ok, hopefully they can work the bugs out! And quickly as I have to run out to some meetings!

All bugs worked out except for the Solomon Hills Chard. If you order this, I will get the money returned to your card. I receive all orders as they come in, and will make sure to reimburse

Not to pile on but it’s saying shipping is $20, not free, on 9 bottles.

ALL BUGS WORKED OUT NOW…BD11 CODE will get you free shipping and 30% off.

IF you refresh it shoudl be good to go. We dropped shipping on all bottles 6+

Grabbed 4 Estate Syrah and 2 XO Syrah. Thanks for participating!!

Thanks Mike. If you like Northern Rhone ~ You will be stuper Stoked.

Thanks for the help. Order in!

order in!!!