This is one of the best California Pinot Noirs I’ve ever had, particularly at this price point. Lots of earth, white pepper, cranberries, black cherry, violets, sage, toasty wood, and forest floor. Good acidity, powerful tannins still there after 10 years, and decent length on the finish. Drink now or anytime over the next 15 years.
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Nice new world pinot with some personality. Not too fruity or concentrated. More herbs and underbrush. Drinking well right now. Opens up in about a half hour. Enjoyed by all with paella.
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This bottle of the 2014 ABC Knox Alexander is significantly more evolved than my tasting notes from eighteen months ago recall (which I'm starting to think applied to the Isabelle instead of the Knox Alexander). The color is trending toward a rust brown, with a 1/2 cm clear rim. The nose is initially muted, but you can coax it out in the glass with a few swirls: red cherries, strawberries, earth, and sandal wood. This has a pleasant mouthfeel with the tannins well on their way to resolving, but some bite from the acidity. Lengthy finish with a black tea and green stems. I would drink these up before they hit 8.
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Purchased at ABC a couple of yrs ago, double decanted for an hour, pale ruby, nose a& palate of strawberry & raspberry, soft/med. tannins, med finish; very nice & ready to drink. This was definitely not a Sonoma pinot in color or palate & blind would have guessed central coast or Oregon
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Can't say I like this. While it is not a super ripe but certain on the sweet fruity side, there is not a lot depth or nuance. For close to 50 dollars, too many other good choices. It is not even that good as a sweet / ripe CA pinit.
Update next day. This taste like a different wine. Much more elegant with good acidity. Still not amazing but much better. I wonder if this one needs to be aged much longer to show well.
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This is an enjoyable daily drinker. A powerful expressive nose of red fruits, black pepper, and a touch vegetal. Cherries on the palate. A solid tannic finish that turns slightly green and the end. Give this another couple years in the cellar.
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Dufter av blomster og bringebær. Tett og konsentrert på smak med frisk syre og lett sødmefull frukt. Fyldig. Trenger fremdeles noen år kjellertid eller mye luft (5-6 timer). Isabelle er mer tilgjengelig nå
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Upon opening I tried a bit of a pop and pour and the nose was a decent combination of Pinot funk and almost all red fruits. Tasted ok, but only ok. The initial response on the pallet was an anemic blitz that didn’t have much after that initial rush. The finish lasts for no more than 2-3 seconds and overall comes across somewhat hollow. That said, it was easy to sniff and sip and for a ca Pinot lover it would be fine though not a toe to toe competitor with other ca Pinot and certainly not a France competitor for the price.
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Opened at Heritage Wine Event at Boulder. Lovely light color. Initial nose had some barnyard in it, along with some red fruits and nice pinot funk. I would give this some time before opening another bottle.
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1/14/2024 - jgreco Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is one of the best California Pinot Noirs I’ve ever had, particularly at this price point. Lots of earth, white pepper, cranberries, black cherry, violets, sage, toasty wood, and forest floor. Good acidity, powerful tannins still there after 10 years, and decent length on the finish. Drink now or anytime over the next 15 years.
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1/12/2023 - ameyer430 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice new world pinot with some personality. Not too fruity or concentrated. More herbs and underbrush. Drinking well right now. Opens up in about a half hour. Enjoyed by all with paella.
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12/18/2020 - tbone wrote:
Delicious on pop and pour. Earth, subtle mature fruit and so good. Love it and glad to have another.
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4/11/2020 - jgreco Likes this wine: 91 Points
This bottle of the 2014 ABC Knox Alexander is significantly more evolved than my tasting notes from eighteen months ago recall (which I'm starting to think applied to the Isabelle instead of the Knox Alexander). The color is trending toward a rust brown, with a 1/2 cm clear rim. The nose is initially muted, but you can coax it out in the glass with a few swirls: red cherries, strawberries, earth, and sandal wood. This has a pleasant mouthfeel with the tannins well on their way to resolving, but some bite from the acidity. Lengthy finish with a black tea and green stems. I would drink these up before they hit 8.
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2/1/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purchased at ABC a couple of yrs ago, double decanted for an hour, pale ruby, nose a& palate of strawberry & raspberry, soft/med. tannins, med finish; very nice & ready to drink. This was definitely not a Sonoma pinot in color or palate & blind would have guessed central coast or Oregon
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12/26/2019 - s******n Likes this wine: 91 Points
Typischer fruchtbetonter PN aus Kalifornien. Gut. Aber auch nicht wirklich besonders.
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11/15/2019 - kodreaming wrote: 90 Points
Can't say I like this. While it is not a super ripe but certain on the sweet fruity side, there is not a lot depth or nuance. For close to 50 dollars, too many other good choices. It is not even that good as a sweet / ripe CA pinit.
Update next day. This taste like a different wine. Much more elegant with good acidity. Still not amazing but much better. I wonder if this one needs to be aged much longer to show well.
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10/24/2018 - jgreco Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is an enjoyable daily drinker. A powerful expressive nose of red fruits, black pepper, and a touch vegetal. Cherries on the palate. A solid tannic finish that turns slightly green and the end. Give this another couple years in the cellar.
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6/2/2018 - eskaar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dufter av blomster og bringebær. Tett og konsentrert på smak med frisk syre og lett sødmefull frukt. Fyldig. Trenger fremdeles noen år kjellertid eller mye luft (5-6 timer). Isabelle er mer tilgjengelig nå
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5/12/2018 - MGMLyons wrote: 88 Points
Upon opening I tried a bit of a pop and pour and the nose was a decent combination of Pinot funk and almost all red fruits. Tasted ok, but only ok. The initial response on the pallet was an anemic blitz that didn’t have much after that initial rush. The finish lasts for no more than 2-3 seconds and overall comes across somewhat hollow. That said, it was easy to sniff and sip and for a ca Pinot lover it would be fine though not a toe to toe competitor with other ca Pinot and certainly not a France competitor for the price.
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4/8/2018 - Stormswave wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful wine, beautiful balance. Could have been cellared an easy 10 years but it fell into my hand when searching for a Pinot.
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2/22/2018 - thelostverse wrote: 89 Points
Opened at Heritage Wine Event at Boulder. Lovely light color. Initial nose had some barnyard in it, along with some red fruits and nice pinot funk. I would give this some time before opening another bottle.
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