Paul Lato Bien Nacido Vineyard Tocai Friulano Santa Maria Valley 2022

Paul Lato's story is just as unique as the sought-after luxury wines he crafts. Born in Poland, he fell in love with wine at a young age and became an acclaimed sommelier in Toronto. With the vocation of winemaker calling to him, Paul moved to the Central Coast of California to apprentice under the widely acclaimed vintner Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat. After his inaugural vintages won admiration from critics and wine consumers alike, Paul Lato rapidly became one of the most well-respected winemakers in Santa Barbara. As a Santa Barbara icon, Paul looked to another symbol of premier Santa Barbara wine in sourcing the fruit for his wine, the Bien Nacido Vineyard.

Bien Nacido is one of the oldest vineyards on California's Central Coast, and the first vineyard plantings took root in 1973. Brothers Steve and Bob Miller purchased the property in 1969 and, for four years, prepared the land for grape growing, which included planting 300 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In the 50-plus years since the Miller family has diversified the varietals in their vineyard with 14 different grapes planted. Those 300 acres of vineyard grew to 600 acres and into legend status, garnering Bien Nacido titles such as #1 on Food & Wine's Top California Vineyards, one of the Top Ten Vineyards Behind the World's Most Famous Wines from Wine Enthusiast, and the source of the world's most single-vineyard designations.

Paul and the Millers have more in common than their reputations as pioneers in the modern Central Coast winemaking industry. Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat played a pivotal role in Paul's career and was one of the first winery partners for Steve and Bob. The brothers cite Jim's wines as perfect expressions of the Bien Nacido terroir. After Jim's unexpected passing in 2021, Paul took over his contract for the Bien Nacido Tocai Friulano fruit and crafted a memorial wine in his honor.

2022 is Paul's second and final vintage of Tocai Friulano, as the Millers replanted the parcel in 2023. While Bien Nacido is famous for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the one acre of Tocai Friulano flourished there. The grape is finicky in maintaining acidity, but the cold Pacific breezes rush through the west-to-east Santa Ynez mountains and bathe the vines, preserving and pronouncing the acidity. Tocai Friulano also has a distinct mineral character; this wine is no exception. Aromas of citrus and honeysuckle fill the nose, leading into the softly textured palate that highlights green apple and white peach with minerality towards the finish that hints of chamomile, lemon peel, and almond skins. The 2022 Paul Lato Tocai Friulano is a tribute to a Santa Barbara legend by a Santa Barbara tastemaker from an emblematic Santa Barbara vineyard.