Fess Parker Big Easy 2019 (750ml)

 

Rated 93 Points by Wine Enthusiast

 

This Syrah-driven blend starts with smoked meat, dark fruit and pepper dust aromas on the nose.  There’s an impressively chalky edge to the palate, which is much more interesting than the nose, offering blackberry paste, smoked beef rib, dried thyme, cracked pepper and a caramel finish.

 

Rated 92 Points by Jeb Dunnuck

 

The 2019 The Big Easy is made in a forward, delicious, ready-to-go style and brings tons of ripe dark fruits, peppery herbs, and some candied violet notes to go with a medium to full-bodied, pure, balanced style.  As with many of the 2019s here, it shows the fresher, more elegant style of the vintage beautifully, and is probably one of the top vintages of this cuvée.

 

Rated 92 Points by Vinous

 

“...Rich and unctuous, if offers up succulent black cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice and spice, punctuated by a dose of sweet American oak.  The Big Easy is not exactly subtle, but it will delight readers who enjoy heady, opulent reds.”

 

Fess Parker

 

The Big Easy 2019

 

Santa Barbara County

 

This well-structured blend has the same characteristics you have come to expect from The Big Easy, rich dark fruit flavors with a touch of oak, and soft tannins that lead to a long lengthy finish. 

 

Blend:  62% Syrah, 24% Petite Sirah, 14% Grenache

 

Alcohol:  14.9

 

Wine Description

 

With The Big Easy we wanted to pay homage to one of our favorite cities, a culinary mecca and great supporters of our wines, New Orleans. 

 

Vineyard Sources:  58% Rodney’s Vineyard from the Fess Parker Home Ranch, 22% Hampton Vineyard, 20% Camp Four Vineyard all located in Santa Barbara County 

 

Barrel Aging:  Aged 21 months in 15% new French and American oak

 

Cooperage:  Ermitage, Meyrieux, Mercurey, Seguin Moreau

 

 

Fess Parker Winery

 

A Family Affair

 

When Fess Parker purchased the 714-acre Foxen Canyon Ranch in 1988, he planned to run cattle, plant a few acres of vineyard, and perhaps, someday, establish a small winery.

 

His dream was to start a family business that he could pass on to future generations.

 

Fess Parker Family

 

Eli Parker and his sister Ashley Parker Snider are now the stewards of their father’s vision for the family portfolio of businesses.  Eli and Ashley work closely with Winery President, Tim Snider (Ashley’s husband).  Many of Fess's grandchildren are now active in the family business as well. 

 

Blair Fox

 

Head Winemaker

 

After graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and Enology, Blair gained his initial winemaking experience at Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez.  He spent a year in Australia at the Haselgrove Winery in 2003 before becoming Head Winemaker at Fess Parker Winery and Epiphany in 2005.  Blair specializes in capturing the distinctive terroir of each vineyard he works with, a style that has garnered great acclaim from major publications, including Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  Blair and his wife Sarah, live in Los Olivos with their two daughters.

 

Fess Parker

 

Actor Entrepreneur Grandpa

 

1924 – 2010

 

Fess Parker’s portrayal of frontiersman Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone during the 1950s and 60s garnered him a legion of adoring fans spanning many generations.  It might well be said that Fess’s similarity to those straight-talking, hardworking country gentlemen is what endeared him to millions and helped him achieve success in the business world when he decided to walk away from Hollywood in the early 1970s.

 

Parker continued to star in, co-produce, and direct numerous box office hits for Disney, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Studios while simultaneously laying the foundation for his second career in real estate development.  Blending his gracious Texas manner and a tremendous eye for real estate, Parker purchased a 714-acre ranch on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail and set out to make the highest quality wine from estate-grown grapes and the best vineyards in the county.

 

Fess Parker and his wife Marcella were married for 50 years and lived in Santa Barbara for over 30 years.  They raised two children and have 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  Fess passed away in March of 2010.  We miss his wisdom, his smile, and his wonderful friendship.

 

 

Rated 93 Points by Wine Enthusiast

 

This Syrah-driven blend starts with smoked meat, dark fruit and pepper dust aromas on the nose. There’s an impressively chalky edge to the palate, which is much more interesting than the nose, offering blackberry paste, smoked beef rib, dried thyme, cracked pepper and a caramel finish.