Bien Nacido Vineyard O Block Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared scallops, roasted chicken with tarragon, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Sourced from the hallowed soils of the Santa Maria Valley, the Dominion Tantara Bien Nacido Vineyard 'O Block' Chardonnay is a tribute to one of California's most iconic viticultural landmarks. Planted in 1973 by the Miller family, the historic 'O Block' features some of the oldest own-rooted Chardonnay vines in the state. This block benefits from the unique transverse orientation of the valley, which funnels cool Pacific breezes and morning fog directly into the vineyard, lengthening the growing season. Dominion Tantara honors this exceptional fruit through traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques, employing native yeast fermentation, gentle lees stirring, and aging in select French oak barrels. The resulting wine is a masterclass in balance, marrying the block's signature saline minerality and vibrant acidity with rich, textured layers of stone fruit and toasted brioche.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1997 by Virginia natives Bill Cates and Jeff Fink, Dominion Tantara (originally founded as Tantara Winery) was born from a mutual passion for cool-climate Burgundian varieties. Operating out of the historic Rancho Tepusquet within Santa Maria Valley's celebrated Bien Nacido Vineyard, the winery sources fruit from elite Central Coast terroirs, including Dierberg, Talley Rincon, Zotovich, and old-vine blocks of Bien Nacido. Benefiting from east-west transverse maritime corridors that funnel morning fog and cool Pacific winds across benchland sandy-loam soils, the estate emphasizes long hang-times with natural acidity preservation. Viticultural practices focus on sustainable management with meticulous canopy care. Cellar vinification embraces low-intervention Burgundian traditions: selective whole-cluster fermentations, native yeasts, and aging in fine-grained French oak barriques. Benchmark bottlings include single-vineyard expressions such as Bien Nacido Vineyard O Block Chardonnay, Zotovich Vineyard Chardonnay, and Dierberg Vineyard Pinot Noir, prized for their tension, crystalline minerality, and savory aromatic depth.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay
🍷 ABV
13.5-14.5%