Fess Parker
You may remember Fess Parker for his legendary roles as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, however since 1987 his Fess Parker Winery has helped him gain a new following. It was that year that Fess purchased a 714 acre ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley which would soon become the home of Fess Parker Vineyards and Winery. His transformation from actor to entrepreneur started a year earlier when he built his first resort on the Santa Barbara coast. Since then he has played a major role in the region’s hospitality and wine industry according to our Fess Parker wine reviews. Along with son Eli, Fess has created some of the most revered wines in the Santa Barbara area with a core focus on Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay according to our Fess Parker wine ratings. The Parker operation includes over 1,500 acres of vineyards, a tasting room and visitor center along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail which was featured in the movie Sideways. Fess passed away in 2010, however his Fess Parker wines ensure that his legend lives on within the wine community.
Showing 1 thru -9 of 105
Fess Parker 2008 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County)
- Editors' Choice
- $28
What a roll Fess Parker Winery is on with their ’08 Chardonnays. Not only great wine, but priced so well. This wine, sourced from Parker’s U Block in this famous Santa Maria Valley vineyard, is as rich as any Chardonnay of the vintage—just massive in pineapple, pear and buttered toast flavors. Yet it’s crisp and tart, clean and bracing in its minerality. Only 115…
— S.H.
(7/1/2010)
Fess Parker 2005 Ashley's Vineyard Clone 115 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
- $50
This single-clone barrel selection takes the essence of the gorgeous, regular ’05 Ashley’s and concentrates it. Brims with sautéed Portobello mushroom, tamari, tangerine zest and black cherry preserves, leading to an immaculately rich, delicately silky, nuanced and enormously complicated Pinot. Hard to exaggerate the purity and finesse. Drink now–2012, before the…
— S.H.
(4/1/2007)
Fess Parker 2008 Ashley's Vineyard Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)
- Editors' Choice
- $28
Don’t drink this beauty too cold with your lobster, crab or scallops. It has the weight of a noble wine, with minerality and creaminess giving shape and texture to the leesy, yeasty flavors of pineapples, Key lime pie and ripe pear purée. Aged in 40% new French oak, California Chardonnay hardly gets any better than this.
— S.H.
(7/1/2010)
Fess Parker 1999 Marcella's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County)
- Editors' Choice
- $45
Captures the essence of South Coast Pinot in its fantastic concentration and depth. Berry, smoke, tomato, chocolate and spice mingle together in a silky package that defines harmony, elegance, power and finesse. Only 300 cases made.
— S.H.
(12/15/2001)
Fess Parker 2003 Ashley's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
- Editors' Choice
- $45
If you had to take one red wine to that proverbial desert island, this might be it. It’s simply delicious. The cherry, black raspberry, cocoa, coffee, cola and spice flavors are enormously deep and long, yet such is the acidity that the wine is filled with life and zest. Just marvelous, and probably best now and over the next year or two.
— S.H.
(11/1/2005)
Fess Parker 2005 Ashley's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
- $52
Ashley’s, sold recently by the Parkers and now renamed Gaia, is a fabulous vineyard on the coolest western edge of the appellation. In this long hangtime vintage, the grapes achieved spectacularly ripe, fruity flavors, of cherries, raspberry purée and sweet, oak-infused cola. But this is no mere fruit bomb. The acid-tannin balance is amazing, and the wine has a…
— S.H.
(4/1/2007)
Fess Parker 2007 Ashley’s Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
- Cellar Selection
- $50
Tasted in March, 2009, this Pinot was dark, rich and tannic. Clearly too young to really show its best now. But it’s an ager. Give it three or four years to let all the parts come together, when the cherries, blackberries, spices and oak should begin to become silky and sweet. Will improve through 2015.
— S.H.
(8/1/2009)
Fess Parker 2003 Ashley's Vineyard Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)
- Editors' Choice
- $26
Ashley’s is one of the cooler vineyards in this part of Santa Barbara, and you can taste the chilly winds in the brilliant acids. They tingle the taste buds and perk up the rich and pure tropical fruit flavors, leading to a clean, vibrant finish. This complex Chard is addictively good.
— S.H.
(11/1/2005)
Showing 1 thru -9 of 105
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A big, strong Pinot with pure, focused flavors of raspberry cream…
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