Current Releases « Bedford Winery

Current Releases

2019 Pinot Blanc, Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County has the climate and terroir to allow many varietals not well known to thrive and become something more, unexpected. Pinot Blanc, although not the most glamorous member of the Pinot family, has proven its worth. The 2019 keeps on evolving from delicious and fresh at release, to a richer more complex wine with age. The grapes are carefully handpicked and sorted in the vineyard. After harvesting, the grapes are whole cluster pressed, and juice is quickly settled and chilled to begin barrel fermentation. The wine is dry and completed malo-lactic fermentation. After a year in French oak barrels, 25% new, it was bottled. This is a rich, Chardonnay-esque white with notes of apple and almond backed by gentle toasty oak. The palate is viscous and the finish goes on and on. Bottle Price: $39.00

2018 Pinot Gris, Santa Barbara County

Our crisp Pinot Gris is picked with low sugar and high acidity. The fruit is harvested by hand, whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented in neutral French oak. Upon completion of malo-lactic fermentation, the wine is sulfured and rests surlees. The brisk acidity of the Pinot Gris was softened by malo-lactic fermentation. This secondary fermentation gives the wine some richness. The wine was aged a brief time in barrel, about 6 months, before bottling. This is a fruit forward wine with structure. The combination makes for food friendly wines. A crowd pleaser. Bottle Price: $35.00

2021 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County

From Santa Maria Valley (Bien Nacido) and Los Alamos (Kick-On and Los Alamos Vineyard) fruit, this Pinot has the best of both worlds. Santa Maria provides the cranberry/cherry fruit notes with sage and spice overtones in the nose that carries through to the palate. Los Alamos increases the richness and depth. The wine was fermented and aged for about 10 months in French oak barrels. Beautiful now and will continue to develop for years to me. Bottle price: $45.00

2014 Old Man Red, Santa Barbara County

Winemakers across the globe have combined different combinations of red grapes for centuries, producing wines that prove greater than the sum of their parts. It is a style that has become more popular of recent, proving another adage ‘Everything old is new again’. We enjoy creating blends. The varieties and vineyards we source from have a proven track record leading to balanced, interesting cuvees. The 2014 is a deep, rich red featuring Grenache, Carignane, Syrah and Petite Syrah. 36 months in barrel brought all the elements together to a harmonious whole. It has a deep, berry fruit character with a forest, earthy spice and light oak in the background. Drinking beautifully now. Bottle Price: $45.00

2017 Chardonnay “Dear Prudence”, Santa Maria Valley – Library Release

I know everyone thinks their mom was the best and I’m no exception. Prudence La Bay Bedford left this world over a decade ago back yet her impact is still felt. She probably would gave preferred a good cup of coffee to wine, but I wanted to make something to celebrate her life and was worthy of her stature. The 2009 Chardonnay “Dear Prudence” was the first, and after 8 years it was time for another. This is a worthy follow-up. This wine is dedicated to all the moms out there that have lovingly guided our lives – even when one of their kids burns a hole in her carpet for a science project.

The Chardonnay is from Gold Coast Vineyard in the cool Santa Maria Valley, the first appellation in Santa Barbara County, and one ideal for Burgundian varietals. The fruit was harvested at 23.3 brix, whole cluster pressed, juice settled overnight, then barreled down to neutral French oak for fermentation with Montrachet yeast. It completed full malolactic fermentation, was left on the lees for 9 months, applied rack and return for an additional 5 months, before being bottled after 14 months in barrel. The wine has fresh fruit elements in the nose along with the complexity and richness barrel age supports, and that will increase over time. A firm, integrated acidity makes it a favorite with Dover sole or cracked crab. Enjoy now but the wine will continue to evolve over the next few years. Only 70 cases made. Bottle Price: $55.00 (limited availability)

2015 Old Man Red, Santa Barbara County – Library Release

The saying, ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts’, applies here. This is a rich, well integrated red blend from a collection of varietals (Grenache, Carignane, Syrah, Petite Sirah) that creates a complex, enticing experience. It was aged 36 months in older french oak barrels to reign in the powerful fruit. The wine is dense with deep berry flavors and notes of earthy spice ending a long, satisfying finish. Drinking beautifully now, it can be enjoyed immediately but will continue to age for many years to come. Enjoy with rack of lamb or a thick steak. Bottle Price: $55.00 (limited availability)

2012 Merlot, Santa Barbara County – Library Release

Ever since the movie Sideways, Merlot has had to undeservedly overcome a bad wrap. It already played second fiddle to Cabernet Sauvignon. But Merlot creates some the greatest wines in the world. It is an earlier ripening variety and consequently is perhaps better suited for this County since we are the one of the coolest wine growing regions. Merlot prefers a warmer climate and the fruit for this comes from the warmer, eastern Santa Ynez Valley. The wine is deep in color with blackberry and plum fruit back by toasty oak, cedar, and earthy spice. Though it has extended barrel age, the wine still has a fresh berry, tannic kick in the finish. Serve with roast duck with a red wine reduction sauce or a thick grilled burger. Bottle Price: $55.00 (limited availability)

2012 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County – Library Release

The fruit comes from the Old San Antonio Vineyard in Los Alamos. Pinot from this region is dense and direct yet eloquent, which is a quality well suited to an Old World style. This wine resembles an aged Burgundy with expressive aromatics and flavors of dried red berries, earth, mushrooms, and what sommeliers call forest floor, that smell you get from freshly fallen damp leaves. The tannins are firm and the finish long. Serve this with roast lamb or pork chop. Bottle Price: $55.00 (limited availability)