4.25/5 My first exposure to the Au Bon Climat “Knox Alexander” was a particularly wonderful experience. I had the good fortune to be seated across the table from Jim Cllenden at the 2011 IPNC La Grand Fête. He shared a bottle of this wine with the table. I was awe struck by how incredibly delicious it was-one of the best wines I had ever tasted. I asked Jim how he made such a delicious wine? After a brief pause “It was a lot of damn hard work.” I remember him saying he put a vineyard on a north facing slope in order to make ripening more difficult. It sure seemed to work. I forget which vintage that wine was. I am almost certain it was at least 10 years old at the time.
I purchased this bottle in memory of the first tasting of “Knox Alexander”. It wasn’t as delicious as those first tastes at IPNC but it was quite delicious. Beautiful acidity, a hint of tannin, beautiful fruit flavor - cranberry like, a touch thin on the mid palate, a beautiful bright cherry red color. It was a fine wine to drink, from start to finish. It would be a great pleasure to drink another bottle in the future.
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Solid Pinot with loads of rustic fruit and dusty, wet leather. Pleasant mouthfeel with lovely nuances of spiced raspberries and cherries, clove, and olive tapenade.
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Lots of fresh red berries, oak and some hints of developing earthy notes. On the palate medium+ bodied, stratightforward and rather rich. But also very fresh. This represents a style of Cali-pinot that I have a weak spot for. Lots of fresh fruit, without loosing any freshness. Could go on for Another 3-5 years I guess,but why wait, delicious now!
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Not so fond of the heavy bottle. Cork sound, but soaked half through. Color was what I like to see in a pinot noir--transparent, light ruby. The transparency belies the body--this was a fairly full-throttle bottle, with plenty of body, stone and berry flavors, bright acidity, and no shortage of tannins. A very satisfying bottle, especially coming on the heels of a strangely muddled pinot noir from a different California producer.
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Dense with sophisticated tannins and good acidity, but while not sweet the plummy black cherry fruit is a hair riper than I prefer and there's quite a lot of oak spice here. This may turn into something I'd like better with time but at this age I prefer the cheaper ABC bottlings, which while less concentrated are also less ripe and oaky and airier.
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I liked this wine. Subtle but pleasant strawberry nose. Medium body. Red fruit on the palate, nice lingering flavor. Nice acid, lively on the palate. Went well with cedar plank coho salmon and after dinner. Would happily buy again.
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Pure cherry-berry aromas, sweet candy, earthy spice, dried rose, orange peel. California weight flavor more or less, but with a restrained, sultry concentration and softer notes of strawberry preserves and herbs playing in the background. ✭
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This was a good pinot, but noting out of the ordinary. Concentrated, with notes of tobacco,cherries and blueberries. Decent QPR at 36.95 at LA Wine Co.
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Tastes a little out of balance at the moment. Rich oak intrudes on what seems to be a lovely berry based aroma. The palate is rich and luscious. Perhaps this just needs some time to balance out?
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WSET Level 3 Course - Berry Brothers & Rudd; 1/25/2014-3/22/2014 (Berry Brothers & Rudd - Basingstoke): Appearance: clear, pale intensity garnet with pale rim. No real legs. Nose: clean, medium intensity, developing, red fruits(raspberries, strawberry), spicey, minerality(smokey), oak Palate: dry, medium to medium(+) acidity, medium(-) to medium tannins, medium(-)/medium body, medium(+) intensity flavours, medium finish, medium level of alcohol (13.5%). Red fruits (plum, cranberries, bitter cherries), toasty oak, peppery spicyness, smokiness Overall: Reasonable balance; reasonable length finish; quite intense flavours; quite complex. Conclusion: GOOD; can drink now – suitable for ageing; PREMIUM priced (£36.95)
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Very good pinot. Restrained, good fruit, balancing acid and tannin, very refined. Drinks okay now but will probably improve over the next 2 to 4 years.
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Pretty garnet in color, aromas of pure cherry/strawberry. Palate offers up flavors of wild cherry, cinnamon and clove in a medium-weight, balanced and elegant PN. For those who appreciate a moderate-weight, not overly extracted version. Very nice and classy.
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5/22/2021 - pinotpounder wrote: 92 Points
92 points
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12/17/2018 - Giacomo Likes this wine:
4.25/5
My first exposure to the Au Bon Climat “Knox Alexander” was a particularly wonderful experience. I had the good fortune to be seated across the table from Jim Cllenden at the 2011 IPNC La Grand Fête. He shared a bottle of this wine with the table. I was awe struck by how incredibly delicious it was-one of the best wines I had ever tasted. I asked Jim how he made such a delicious wine? After a brief pause “It was a lot of damn hard work.” I remember him saying he put a vineyard on a north facing slope in order to make ripening more difficult. It sure seemed to work. I forget which vintage that wine was. I am almost certain it was at least 10 years old at the time.
I purchased this bottle in memory of the first tasting of “Knox Alexander”. It wasn’t as delicious as those first tastes at IPNC but it was quite delicious. Beautiful acidity, a hint of tannin, beautiful fruit flavor - cranberry like, a touch thin on the mid palate, a beautiful bright cherry red color. It was a fine wine to drink, from start to finish. It would be a great pleasure to drink another bottle in the future.
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4/2/2018 - Ryan.Vento Likes this wine: 93 Points
Solid Pinot with loads of rustic fruit and dusty, wet leather. Pleasant mouthfeel with lovely nuances of spiced raspberries and cherries, clove, and olive tapenade.
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12/9/2016 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of fresh red berries, oak and some hints of developing earthy notes. On the palate medium+ bodied, stratightforward and rather rich. But also very fresh. This represents a style of Cali-pinot that I have a weak spot for. Lots of fresh fruit, without loosing any freshness.
Could go on for Another 3-5 years I guess,but why wait, delicious now!
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9/26/2015 - Italiana Likes this wine:
Not so fond of the heavy bottle. Cork sound, but soaked half through. Color was what I like to see in a pinot noir--transparent, light ruby. The transparency belies the body--this was a fairly full-throttle bottle, with plenty of body, stone and berry flavors, bright acidity, and no shortage of tannins. A very satisfying bottle, especially coming on the heels of a strangely muddled pinot noir from a different California producer.
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9/22/2015 - coremill wrote: 87 Points
Dense with sophisticated tannins and good acidity, but while not sweet the plummy black cherry fruit is a hair riper than I prefer and there's quite a lot of oak spice here. This may turn into something I'd like better with time but at this age I prefer the cheaper ABC bottlings, which while less concentrated are also less ripe and oaky and airier.
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8/24/2015 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyable
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8/1/2015 - sharonandroland Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lots of cherry, rather ripe. Not as restrained as I had in memory. Clearly new world. Still rather refined and not over the top.
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5/19/2015 - Mattias S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely and balanced california-pinot! Wonderful QPR!
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12/20/2014 - Mtz Tom Likes this wine: 93 Points
I liked this wine. Subtle but pleasant strawberry nose. Medium body. Red fruit on the palate, nice lingering flavor. Nice acid, lively on the palate. Went well with cedar plank coho salmon and after dinner. Would happily buy again.
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8/3/2014 - weingutwilhelm wrote: 91 Points
Pure cherry-berry aromas, sweet candy, earthy spice, dried rose, orange peel. California weight flavor more or less, but with a restrained, sultry concentration and softer notes of strawberry preserves and herbs playing in the background. ✭
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7/14/2014 - Chasse_spleen wrote: 90 Points
Good, complex nose - rich pinot tones. But too well-rounded, and slightly polished. An excellent wine, but lacking in personality.
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6/25/2014 - TheWrongAlex wrote:
Earthy nose with a touch of blackberry. Mushroom and woody flavors, and some cranberry creeping in on the finish.
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6/25/2014 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruits, medium integrated oak, pure, smooth, touch of baking spice, lovely, balanced, one of the greats. 92+
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5/24/2014 - alex4wine Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was a good pinot, but noting out of the ordinary. Concentrated, with notes of tobacco,cherries and blueberries. Decent QPR at 36.95 at LA Wine Co.
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3/28/2014 - dustbuddy wrote: 89 Points
Tastes a little out of balance at the moment. Rich oak intrudes on what seems to be a lovely berry based aroma. The palate is rich and luscious. Perhaps this just needs some time to balance out?
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2/22/2014 - HStaal wrote: 88 Points
WSET Level 3 Course - Berry Brothers & Rudd; 1/25/2014-3/22/2014 (Berry Brothers & Rudd - Basingstoke): Appearance: clear, pale intensity garnet with pale rim. No real legs.
Nose: clean, medium intensity, developing, red fruits(raspberries, strawberry), spicey, minerality(smokey), oak
Palate: dry, medium to medium(+) acidity, medium(-) to medium tannins, medium(-)/medium body, medium(+) intensity flavours, medium finish, medium level of alcohol (13.5%). Red fruits (plum, cranberries, bitter cherries), toasty oak, peppery spicyness, smokiness
Overall: Reasonable balance; reasonable length finish; quite intense flavours; quite complex.
Conclusion: GOOD; can drink now – suitable for ageing; PREMIUM priced (£36.95)
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2/17/2014 - Carolus81 wrote: 91 Points
Rktigt god och tydligt Kalifornisk Pinot. Hallon och rabarberfruktig med en läskande lite lätt bitter blodgrape syra. Jävligt gott.
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1/29/2014 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very good pinot. Restrained, good fruit, balancing acid and tannin, very refined. Drinks okay now but will probably improve over the next 2 to 4 years.
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12/25/2013 - Snoman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pretty garnet in color, aromas of pure cherry/strawberry. Palate offers up flavors of wild cherry, cinnamon and clove in a medium-weight, balanced and elegant PN. For those who appreciate a moderate-weight, not overly extracted version. Very nice and classy.
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