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Manage Subscriptions1997 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
Pinot Noir
- USA
- California
- Central Coast
- Santa Ynez Valley
Community Tasting Notes 4
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Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 95 points
October 14, 2022 - CV Lunch at Jade Palace. Semi-blind. Drank in Grassl Cru.
Appearance some sediments, pale intensity, garnet colour with watery rim. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with wow aromas of Burgundian sous bois earth, bits of mushroom, puffs of smoke, integrated red cherries. Developed.
On the palate, dry, softened high acidity, medium alcohol (13%), integrated medium tannins, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity. with flavours of integrated red cherries, bits of stewed plum, melted potpourri, mushroom hints, sous bois earth. Long finish.
Excellent quality and provenance. I could have sworn this was Burgundy if I didn't know the theme. -
Counselor Chris wrote: 95 points
July 20, 2016 - Opened on our 19th anniversary to pair with a meal of grilled hangar steak, roasted cauliflower and grilled trumpet mushrooms.
This wine really shone right from the outset and never dropped off in two hours in the decanter (decanted because the end of the cork snapped and the bottom part ended up down in the bottle). The color was a bright, translucent red with no browning or bricking. The nose and palate were rich with tart red cherries, a bit of cranberry and rhubarb, a good dollop of orange and orange zest, and a hint of sage and bay leaf. The best part was a wonderfully long finish with tingling autumn baking spices, river minerals and juicy acids. The wine overall reminded of being in the kitchen on a cool autumn day, with just a bit of sharp edge to the breeze outside, a beautiful array of multicolored trees and leaves on display, and a warm evening's meal being prepared by loved ones.
We have here quite a marriage of winemaker and vineyard, with both of them noted for great longevity and elegance in their wines, so I had high hopes for the wine and my hopes were met and exceeded. I think this bottle had easily another 5 years in a peak state, probably longer, with likely another more tertiary type phase after that. I wish I had more bottles left of this so I could be along for that ride. -
vbellore wrote: 91 points
November 26, 2009 - Pleasantly surprised. Very light, at first pour comes across as watery. Complexity picks up, with a little bit of baking spice on the finish. Sour cherries carry through out. Still picking up some weight 2 hours after opening. Still fige though.
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winefool wrote: 90 points
October 7, 2006 - Very nice, lighter Pinot. Plenty of fruit and complexity
Pro Reviews 1
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By Stephen Tanzer
November/December 1999, IWC Issue #87 (link)(Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Sanford and Benedict Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley) Subscribe to see review text.
Wine Definition
- Vintage 1997
- Type Red
- Producer Au Bon Climat
- Varietal Pinot Noir
- Designation n/a
- Vineyard Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Central Coast
- Appellation Santa Ynez Valley
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
- In Cellars 10 (48%)
- Consumed 11 (52%)
Food Pairing
Who Likes This Wine
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerAu Bon Climat
- VarietyPinot Noir
- VineyardSanford & Benedict Vineyard
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionCentral Coast
- AppellationSanta Ynez Valley
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- Wine1997 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (add)
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- ProducerAu Bon Climat
- VarietalPinot Noir
- VineyardSanford & Benedict Vineyard
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionCentral Coast
- AppellationSanta Ynez Valley