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Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
This wine is just easy to drink. Whether with fresh grilled salmon or left-over roast chicken or just in a glass by itself, the pretty plum and spring strawberry flavors of ABC SB Pinot are simply delicious. There is nothing pretentious here, just well balanced, nicely textured, brightly fruity wine that seems to go with everything. |
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Barham Mendelsohn Pinot Noir Russian River
Valley
With the Barham Mendelsohn label, Jim stretches his Pinot potential to include one of California's best growing regions for this fickle grape. Sonoma County's Russian River Valley Pinot Noir tends to reveal more bright red berry and high toned, warm cinnamon notes compared with the darker, more plummy flavors typical of Santa Barbara Pinots. Juicy, balanced, full of lively, ripe fruit, this wine is perfect for pairing with a succulent, crispy skinned, roast duck. |
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Pinot Noir Isabelle
While most Au Bon Climat Pinots are vineyard specific, Isabelle is created by masterful blending in the cellar of the best barrels from those specific sites (Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict, Talley Rincon, Mt. Carmel...the proportions are a very proprietary secret). The result is a wine of incredible depth, complexity, and focus- very serious Pinot. For this year's Isabelle, Jim was presented with more quality components than he has ever had to work with due to the exceptional nature of the vintage. A brilliant effort worthy of space in any cellar- it will live for years. |
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Pinot Noir Talley "Rincon"
Like a big, raw-boned colt that will grow into a sleek racehorse, this
Pinot has tremendous potential. There's only one problem, even though you know it needs time to evolve, the broadly textured, yet intense black fruits scented with earthy spice already envelop the senses with pleasure. Your reward for having the will power to save some for a few years will be the evolution of the delicious to the sublime. |
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Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Knox Alexander"
Lush, velvety, creamy, bursting with berries, fragrant flowers, and soft wafts of vanilla, the 2001 Knox is a wine for hedonists. Made from 50% Dijon clones and 50% traditional California selections planted by Jim Clendenen at the higher elevations of Bien Nacido Vineyard, this wine seems to grow in stature with every vintage- much like Jim's own son, Knox, who lends the wine his name. |
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Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "La Bauge Au-dessus"
Full and rich with flavors of plums and warm spice, this Pinot is a
crowd pleaser. The fruit is all Dijon clones from Block Two of the famed
Bien Nacido Vineyard. This is classic Santa Barbara Pinot with a price/quality ratio that's truly hard to beat. |
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Pinot Gris - Pinot Blanc Central Coast
Simply delightful. This is the wine, once discovered, that will become your house white- it's just too thoroughly agreeable to ignore. Light citrus and apple notes go with everything from a picnic of pasta salad at the park to a first fish dish at a five-course feast- and then some. Buy it by the case- you won't be sorry. |
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Chardonnay Santa Barbara County
Burgundian in sensibility but with California style is one way of describing Jim Clendenen's Chardonnays- Structure and restraint melded with bountiful opulence is another. In the glass, buttery brioche marries with tropical fruits in an irresistible elixir that will leave the bottle drained before you know it. Try it with turbot for a match of delicacy and richness. |
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White Table Wine Santa Maria Valley
"Hildegard"
A blend of 55% Pinot Gris, 40% Pinot Blanc and 5% Aligote, this is a wine of deliciously supple texture and deceptive complexity. Aromas of apple, almond and freshly baked cake (not kidding!) waft above the glass like notes from the Pied-Piper's flute- impossible to resist. A marvelous exchange for the routine of Chardonnay. |
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Chardonnay XX Anniversary Santa Maria Valley
Opulent, expansive Chardonnay replete with flavors of ripe tropical fruits, creamy hazelnuts, and vanilla oak. Its voluptuous nature is kept in line by a sound core of mouthwatering acidity that keeps you coming back to the glass for more. This ranks among Jim's very best Chardonnays- ever. |
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Chardonnay Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Rita
Hills)
The Santa Rita Hills AVA is THE hot new place to grow great grapes. Well-sited vineyards take advantage of cool temperatures and long hang-times to produce fruit that is sweet and ripe while still full of verve. And this delicious example does not disappoint. |
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