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
Founded in 1997 in California's cool-climate Santa Barbara County, Dominion Tantara is an artisan producer renowned for its site-specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Sourcing fruit from celebrated Central Coast terroirs such as Bentrock, Dierberg, and La Encantada vineyards, the winery emphasizes low-intervention, Burgundian-inspired winemaking techniques that showcase the purity of each vintage. Its cellar regime prioritizes indigenous fermentations, gentle handling, and judicious use of French oak to produce focused, elegant wines of remarkable depth and ageability. In addition to its acclaimed single-vineyard and reserve Pinot Noirs, Dominion Tantara crafts refined, small-lot expressions of Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13.5-14.5%