Winemaking legend Ken Brown started Byron winery back in 1984. However, it wasn't until he purchased the Uriel J. Nielson Vineyard, which was planted in 1964 and was the first Santa Barbara County vineyard planted in the 20th century, that things really began to take off. With the focus on single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, people really began to take note of the incredible wines being made by this winery.
Winemaker Jonathan Nagy has been at the winemaking helm since 2003, and has witnessed the ownership of Byron change from Ken Brown, to Robert Mondavi, to Constellation. But with the firm endorsement of the current owners (Jackson Family), Jonathan is continuing the focus on acquiring the best grapes from the best vineyards…and subsequently making magnificent wines!
We have been hard at work, tackling the "rough" job of tasting through several of the current Byron wines, and we found a few that really took us by surprise. Not by their quality, but for the quality at the ridiculously reasonable prices! We bought all that we could, as these were deals that were too good for us to pass up. We now offer them up to you, our loyal customers!
A good share of Byron winemaking takes place in the vineyard, where winemaker Jonathan Nagy selects individual rows and blocks for their potential to express both variety and site-focusing particularly on clones that best exemplify Byron's balanced, textural and site-expressive style. One of Sta. Rita Hills' newest and most exciting plantings, this vineyard sits along the eastern border of the AVA. The site's 100-acres benefit from a myriad of exposures and marine influences, which together with premium clonal selection and high-density planting, produce exceptionally small clusters and berries. John Sebastiano Vineyard utilizes organic farming practices...
ANTONIO GALLONI 93 POINTS - "The 2017 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is powerful and pungent, with a blast of savory and spiced notes that race out of the glass. Deep, pliant and supple, the JSV has a ton to offer. It is also one of the more complete wines in the range. Red/purplish berry fruit, blood orange, mint and rose petal meld into the striking, nuanced finish."
JEB DUNNUCK 93 POINTS - "Coming from a windy site on the eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2017 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard saw one-third stems and spent 16 months in 57% new French oak. It offers a more classic Sta. Rita Hills bouquet of salted cherries, leafy herbs, flowers, and forest floor. Fruit forward, fleshy, beautifully textured and structured, drink this richer, fleshy Pinot Noir over the coming 7-8 years."
Winemaker Jonathan Nagy has been at the winemaking helm since 2003, and has witnessed the ownership of Byron change from Ken Brown, to Robert Mondavi, to Constellation. But with the firm endorsement of the current owners (Jackson Family), Jonathan is continuing the focus on acquiring the best grapes from the best vineyards…and subsequently making magnificent wines!
We have been hard at work, tackling the "rough" job of tasting through several of the current Byron wines, and we found a few that really took us by surprise. Not by their quality, but for the quality at the ridiculously reasonable prices! We bought all that we could, as these were deals that were too good for us to pass up. We now offer them up to you, our loyal customers!
A good share of Byron winemaking takes place in the vineyard, where winemaker Jonathan Nagy selects individual rows and blocks for their potential to express both variety and site-focusing particularly on clones that best exemplify Byron's balanced, textural and site-expressive style. One of Sta. Rita Hills' newest and most exciting plantings, this vineyard sits along the eastern border of the AVA. The site's 100-acres benefit from a myriad of exposures and marine influences, which together with premium clonal selection and high-density planting, produce exceptionally small clusters and berries. John Sebastiano Vineyard utilizes organic farming practices...
ANTONIO GALLONI 93 POINTS - "The 2017 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is powerful and pungent, with a blast of savory and spiced notes that race out of the glass. Deep, pliant and supple, the JSV has a ton to offer. It is also one of the more complete wines in the range. Red/purplish berry fruit, blood orange, mint and rose petal meld into the striking, nuanced finish."
JEB DUNNUCK 93 POINTS - "Coming from a windy site on the eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2017 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard saw one-third stems and spent 16 months in 57% new French oak. It offers a more classic Sta. Rita Hills bouquet of salted cherries, leafy herbs, flowers, and forest floor. Fruit forward, fleshy, beautifully textured and structured, drink this richer, fleshy Pinot Noir over the coming 7-8 years."
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