Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/552044
110 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 Baehner Fournier Vineyards A DECADE OF GOLD MEDAL WINES This steep hillside vineyard located on a 16 acre patch of gravely loam in the foothills of the San Rafael Mountains in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County has produced Gold Medal wines for the past decade. When Dr. Bob Baehner and his wife Vickie Fournier Baehner decided to build their home there among the oak and sage in 2001, they added five acres of ENTAV registered Bordeaux vines. The site is uniquely situated on a ridge perched above the valley fog line and is flanked by two mountain ranges, one to the East and the other to the South which harness ocean winds safeguarding the vines against frost. Sustainable farming techniques are practiced in five small vineyards surrounding the residence and guest house. The estate is solar powered and emits a magical aura. The grape harvest yields are consistently low (about 1 to 1.5 ton per acre) but the small berries are balanced and concentrated. Baehner Fournier has produced estate gown Bordeaux wine for the past decade. Their yearly production is under one thousand cases. The two entries for the 2015 San Francisco International Wine Competition, 2012 V3 Premium Bordeaux Blend and 2012 Solus Cabernet Sauvignon were awarded Gold Medals. The wines favor characteristics of black cherries, plums, cloves, leather and smoke melded together in a soft supple style and a silky expressive finish with plenty of depth have been consistent in all the past vintages as well. The wines are made by noted Santa Barbara winemaker Steve Clifton. The Baehner Fournier 2011 as well as the 2007 V3 Premium Bordeaux Blends received Double Gold Medals while the 2007 Solus was awarded a Gold Medal at prior years' San Francisco International Wine Competitions. The 2005 V3 Premium Bordeaux Blend was the first vintage of estate grown wine produced by Baehner Fournier and received Gold Medal at the Orange County Wine Competition and a Silver Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. CURRENT OFFERINGS 2012 V3 Bordeaux Blend Estate Grown ($42) 2012 Solus Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown ($34) 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($25) DOUBLE GOLD MEDALS WHITE CHARDONNAY Baileyana 2013 Chardonnay Firepeak, Edna Valley, USA ($28) Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2013 Barrel Fer mented Chardonnay, Finger Lakes, USA ($17) Cholame Vineyard 2012 Chardonnay, Santa Barbara, USA ($32) Darcie Kent Vineyards 2013 Chardonnay, Central Coast, USA ($18) Old Soul 2013 Chardonnay, Lodi, USA ($14) Oro Bello 2013 Chardonnay, California, USA ($20) Scrapbook 2012 Chardonnay, California, USA ($9) Silk Oak 2013 Chardonnay, Lodi, USA ($17) Thirty-Seven 2013 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, USA ($36) Wyndham Estate 2014 Bin 222 Chardonnay, South Eastern Australia ($8) PERNOD RICARD USA SAUVIGNON BLANC AND CHENIN BLANC Buttonwood Farm Winery 2013 Signature Blend, Estate Grown Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez, USA ($16) Souverain 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast, USA ($15) Toi Toi Wines 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($15) Wither Hills 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau Valley, New Zealand ($14) DISTINGUISHED VINEYARDS & WINE PARTNERS De Bortoli 2014 Regional Reserve Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Yarra Valley, Australia ($17) Sauvion 2014 Vouvray, Loire Valley, France ($12) W.J. DEUTSCH & SONS RIESLING AND GEWÜRZTRAMINER Belhurst Estate Winery 2014 Dry Riesling, Seneca Lake, USA ($19) Braganini 2014 Reserve Dry Riesling, Lake Michigan Shore, USA ($15) Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2014 Semi Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, USA ($15) Chateau Ste. Michelle 2013 Dr. Loosen Eroica Gold Riesling, Columbia Valley, USA ($30) Fetzer Vineyards 2013 Goosefoot Road Riesling, Monterey County, USA ($9) Framingham 2013 Classic Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand ($25) Greenwood Ridge Vineyards 2013 Estate Bottled Late Harvest Riesling, Mendocino Ridge, USA ($36) Inniskillin Niagara 2014 Reserve Riesling Ice Wine, Niagara Peninsula, Canada ($80) CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estates 2013 Grand Reserve Riesling, VQA Okanagan Valley, Canada ($17) Shady Lane Cellars 2013 Estate Dry Riesling, Leelanau Peninsula, USA ($16) Spy Valley Wines 2013 Gewürztraminer, Marlborough, New Zealand ($25) BROADBENT SELECTIONS Swedish Hill Vineyard 2014 Riesling, Finger Lakes, USA ($16) Wagner Vineyards 2013 Estate Bottled Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, USA ($15) RHÔNE/ RHÔNE-STYLE WHITES Cass Winery 2014 Viognier, Paso Robles, USA ($24) Fess Parker Winery 2014 Marcella's White Rhône Blend, Santa Barbara County, USA ($19) Goose Ridge Estate 2013 Estate White Rhône Blend, Columbia Valley, USA ($24) J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines 2014 Gesture RVG, Paso Robles, USA ($35) Yellow Tail NV Casella Family Moscato, Yenda, Australia ($8) W.J. DEUTSCH & SONS OTHER WHITES Barboursville Vineyards 2014 Reserve Vermentino, Virginia, USA ($23) Bluemont Vineyard 2014 Petit Manseng, Loudoun County, USA ($26) Brancott Estate 2014 Flight Song Pinot Gris, Marlborough, New Zealand ($15) PERNOD RICARD USA Cardwell Hill Cellars 2014 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, USA ($15) Challis Lane 2013 Pinot Grigio, California, USA ($10)