The 2018 Pinot Noir la Encantada Vineyard is pale ruby-purple and scented of blue and black berries, mixed tea leaves and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate has crunchy fruits and tangy, mouth-puckering acidity.

The 2016 Pinot Noir la Encantada Vineyard has a pale to medium ruby color and scents of stewed black tea leaves, black peppercorn, wild blackberries, black and red cherries and berries plus hints of woodsmoke and cola. It has concentrated fruit and earth layers in the mouth with a light to medium weight, a grainy tannic frame and juicy acidity, finishing long.

The 2015 Pinot Noir la Encantada Vineyard offers up appealing aromas of candied peel, spice, red berry fruit and sweet soil. On the palate, it's supple, juicy, open-knit, framed by light structuring tannins and nicely balanced in profile. With some more depth and complexity, it would score higher.

Possessing a beautiful, high toned nose of violets, blood orange, toasted spice and caramelized cherries, the 2014 Pinot Noir la Encantada Vineyard hits the palate with a silky, polished, elegant, finesse-oriented texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. Fresh and lively aromatically, yet with more richness and depth coming through on the palate, it's an impressive wine to enjoy over the following 7-8 years.

The 2012 Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills is a beautiful effort that spent 16 months in 33% new French oak prior to being bottled un-fined and unfiltered. Showing notions of cherry pits, framboise, mint and spring flowers, it flows onto the palate with a rich, seamless texture, outstanding purity of fruit and a nicely focused, layered finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. Completely destemmed, it shows the prettier side the variety, and will shine for 5-7 years. I was blown away by these new Pinot Noir releases from Foxen, and they’re up near the top of the vintage. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same with regards to the Rhone blends, and these had superficial, mid-weight profiles geared for near-term drinking. As to the Bordeaux blends, these come from the eastern most AVA in Santa Barbara County and are labeled under the Foxen 7200 label. Tel. (805) 937-4251; www.foxenvineyard.com