Fess Parker Pinot Noir Ashley'S Sta. Rita Hills 2023 (750ml) *
Product price
$61.99
Description
Cool-climate Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills, where fog and ocean influence keep the fruit bright and savory, gets a vineyard-designated treatment here. This 2023 Ashley's bottling comes from Fess Parker, the Santa Barbara County estate located just outside Los Olivos, and it was entirely destemmed before aging ten months in French oak, about a third of it new. The result is medium-bodied and built for the table, with real structure underneath the fruit.
Expect mulled strawberry and framboise at the core, edged with sassafras, dried flowers, and underbrush that pull the wine toward the savory side. There's a salty, red-berried tang running through it, along with notes of black tea, tobacco leaf, truffle, and cedar. The mouthfeel is polished and focused, with plenty of tannin and a dense, powerful mid-palate that stays balanced right to a long finish. Layered and seriously composed, it will reward several years in the cellar.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Santa Barbara County |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Producer | Fess Parker |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
Mulled strawberry and framboise fruits intermixed with sassafras, sappy flowers, and underbrush define the 2023 Pinot Noir Ashley's, which was all destemmed and aged 10 months in 36% new French oak. It's medium-bodied, has a focused, polished mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and outstanding length. Drink this complex, layered, seriously impressive Pinot Noir over the coming 5-8 years. Drink 2025-2033. Fess Parker continues to deliver a broad lineup of impeccably made wines under the direction of winemaker Blair Fox. Located just outside of Los Olivos, the estate has been a fixture in Santa Barbara County for decades, with their Rodney's Vineyard located just around the estate. While they focus largely on their own vineyards, they also pull fruit from top sites, including Bien Nacido and Sanford & Benedict. The Chardonnay program includes three bottlings from Sta. Rita Hills and the Santa Maria Valley, both showcasing terrific balance and unique character. Their Pinot Noir lineup is extensive, comprising six bottlings that include both vineyard-designated and clonal selections. As for the Rhônes, they produce both a Grenache-based blend and a Syrah from Rodney's Vineyard. It's been particularly interesting to watch the evolution of their Big Easy cuvée. This used to be a simple steakhouse red with little structure and all fruit, yet today it's increasingly a serious wine that brings real quality at a great price. I was able to taste a solid lineup from both 2022 and 2023, and as I hope the notes show, both are terrific vintages here. Across the board, these wines show the consistent quality and technical precision that makes this larger producer a reliable source for both everyday drinking and more serious bottles. (Jeb Dunnuck, September 2025)
The 2023 Pinot Noir Ashley's, from Rancho Las Hermanas, has good richness and body to offset its decidedly savory leanings. Black tea, truffle, tobacco leaf, new leather and cedar heighten a core of salty red berries and pomegranate. There's notable density and power in the mid-palate, but the Ashley's keeps its balance all the way through. (Vinous)