Jeff B.
Yelp
(Tasted 12/20/16 TU @ 2:00pm): We hounded this place as if we were chasing a fox!
For her birthday, a wine-drinking friend and I followed the Foxen Canyon Rd. to Foxen Vineyard as we tried to maximize a "2016 Santa Barbara Wine Passport" I purchased earlier in the year, which gave access to over twenty vineyards with various promotional deals. This particular winery had a 2-for-1 passport deal AND a Yelp Check-In offer ($15.00 for two tastings). As I've always said, "Discounts on any kind of alcohol was always a plus in my book"! Was our 3rd stop worth it!?:
Tasting Flight - 5 Tastings ($15.00 x 2) - Selections were nicely varied. And unlike many tastings I've partaken in, theirs was less conducive for note-taking (i.e. no available taster notecards or writing instruments). Honestly, wineries do consumers a huge disservice when this easy amenity wasn't provided. Having said that, here were my cloudy tasting recollections. Again, by no means am I an oenophile - just a simple lush who enjoyed wine:
~2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($28.00): I was a sucker for a pleasantly gentle sweet white wine I could drink on a warm day and this was it...so I bought a bottle https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=qCrAGWJ2gtevk-6jqgRRjA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
~2013 Cabernet Sauvignon: Full body with dark berries and medium acidity on the palate https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=5ZGHhO95KMFsaXD879LNaw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
~2013 Cabernet Franc: Very dry that left me parch https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=u1b6tphyB4g5j9jg0Av3_w&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
~2013 Guillermo Grosso: A complexity of dry sweetness and high tannins https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Fo1-yKojG1-xUNTNykRccw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
~2013 Sangiovese: Nice semi-sweetness https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=WmtZfGt4XUJ7B6YZI_m9hQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
Wine And Chocolate Truffle Flight - 4 Tastings ($20.00) - A tray of delectable treats paired with similar wines we were already tasting https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=OoiSIuiHr6bTOPKBLJKQnw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Yeah...we both dove into the sweets before I realized I never got a picture, so obviously we enjoyed them!:
~2013 Mission: The only "different" one of the bunch, this was more of a dessert wine that would've stood better on its own rather than paired with a piece of chocolate https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=qLlQdjZrbTGHBEIPNTneYA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.
Service - Two women easily handled the handful of customers who were also tasting. We found a spot at the counter, showed the passport, and off we went on a sipping journey. Had they not mentioned the chocolate tasting, we wouldn't have known. All went smoothly as they at times had heavier pours. And, I left with a bottle and wine tote for their troubles; great job, ladies https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=zDNhDXEwB5A3BugN6fyjkw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw!
Parking (FREE) - They had their own medium-sized private lot - 'nuff said.
Atmosphere, décor, ambience - This original tasting room was located inside "The Shack", an historic 1860's wooden blacksmith shop off the side of the road. As you approached from the dirt parking lot you passed through an inviting exposed outdoor patio with chairs, tables, and umbrellas to kick back and relax https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=RodmnRvPMTNtTL1clcTEQw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Once inside, the smallish layout was simply an L-shaped tasting counter, merchandise displayed for purchase, and various odds-and-ends hung on the walls. Plenty of natural lighting came through the two large wooden side doors while I honestly couldn't remember if there was any electric lighting. I didn't recall any TVs but music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=JVaBHRYas53lffgUrECZsg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw
Attire - Business casual out of respect for the art of wine tasting, so I would normally be in a buttoned-up shirt, pants, and covered-toe shoes.
Overall, my afternoon at Foxen Vineyard was a blast as we chatted with the two women workers and the kind older couple we tasted next to from the Westside. Although I was happy to visit a winery I'd never been to, the majority of their wines were pleasing to me. Apparently, they were known for their Pinot Noirs but none were part of the tasting (which was fine by me). Please take my criticism with a grain of salt since wine tasting was completely subjective from one person's palate to the next. The service was wonderful, and bottle prices were a tad high. Wine glasses weren't included. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $65.00 AFTER discount; no tip required). And, they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! 4.0 STARS