Pop and poured. Floral to the max, spicy and red fruited nose. No mistaking it for Burgundy, very Californian but with Clenenden touch. Still has a bit of tannins, on top of the raspberry and red currant flavours, there's also a naruli flavour, very Earl Grey like, reminiscent of soap. Overall, lovely but that naruli flavour is slightly distracting.
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Nose is cherries, rhubarb, touch of cola, and clean earth.
Palate is round and juicy and confirms nose. Incredibly profound, integrated and balanced. Mouth coating mid palate with welcome minerality.
One of my favorite Pinots so far this year. I immediately started shopping for more. If I had tasted this blind, it would have fooled me easily. It's just so Burgundian.
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This is nice. Quite complex. Red fruit, floral. Some forest notes. Somewhat short finish is the only mild gripe. Feels like it will be better in a few years, which is a shame as this is my last bottle. Have stoppered and will revisit tomorrow.
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Absolutely a gem of a red wine. Blackcurrants, strawberry jam, hay. Usually I decant, but drank this straight from the bottle. Good qpr as well and a very good rival to much more expensive Burgundy wines.
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Fantastic nose of coca cola, ripe red berries, green herbs and hints of vanilla. Taste of red berries, earthy notes and a long aftertaste of licorice. Drinking perfectly right now.
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Very nice Pinot I know that Jim C was known for very expressive and fruited wines but this Pinot clearly looks to Burgundy with restraint, some cranberry and citrus but not overly earthy. Definitely not Syrah in a Pinot bottle. Really pretty
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Wow what an amazing Pinot. Pours to a ripe red color in glass. Decantered for 30 mins, delicious rich red fruit aromas pop right at you. Flavors of tart cherry, raspberry with a deep complexity of other red fruits are everywhere in this wine. Med tannins from a med style semi fruit forward wine. This is one to buy a case and drink happily. Not sure why the bottle weighs a ton, but as long as the wine is great who cares.
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Thanksgiving wine. I was anxious to drink this since I met MC at a wine dinner in NYC about 10 years ago. This is a very pretty color. Cherries. A hint of tannins. I'd suggest holding for at least 5 years.
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This is really drinking nicely right now. No comprehensive notes taken, but this was soft and round with interesting layers and finish. Great with appetizers tonight.
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decanted for half an hour, starts off with fresh red fruit and spice scents, medium to full bodied with a tender chew and soft texture, mouthful of flavor, shows dark berry, Asian spices, soy, ripe cherries and earthy nuances on the palate, long, easy, rich, flavorful, well crafted, going to have with Korean BBQ meats later
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What’s inside isn’t nearly as exciting, but certainly a well made wine from great Santa Maria fruit. Smoky nose, tart and sour cherry, and a nice lingering finish. Slightly heavier then the average Pinot but very balanced with barely a hint of oak
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Crunchy black fruit up front mixed with floral notes, pepper and bramble on the core, good structure, finishes on tartness but not obnoxiously so. Long and lean. Next to a 2017 Vosne-Romanee (Capitain-Gagnerot's Aux Raviolles) this wine is brighter, clearer, less textured and longer. Also $30 less expensive. Also (to me) the more enjoyable wine.
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Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Birch, black berries, black cherries and a hint of dust. Flavors of black berries, black raspberries and black cherries. Medium to tart acidity, medium to firm tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink over the sort to medium term.
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Very pale; leans towards black fruits, bold - oak to fore; medium full, more upfront, bigger. Opens out in the glass. Extended. Give this a couple of years.
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Lovely, elegant CA Pinot Noir. It has a focus and modesty that is not available in most CA Pinots. Amazing QPR for this level of Pinot. No reason for the crazy heavy bottle. The proof is inside the bottle.
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Revisting ABC: Tasted alongside 2016 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard and 2016 Pinot Noir “Isabelle.” Fruit is a little riper and dark fruited here... again plenty of very classy baking spice oak aromas as well. on the palate similar to the others showing high acids, good pinot midpalate flesh, low alcohol... the Knox was a step up in tannic structure being very, very firm at the end.
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Knox Alexander, named after Jim Clendenens son, is a specially fine pinotnoir. It is intens, lean an silky at the same time. Bright fruit with yammy taste of rasberries and mature strawberry. Lightly oaked and savoury long aftertaste.
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Tasting at Au-Bon Climat: Rich red fruit aromas - fig, cherry, with vanilla bean, allspice, tea leaf and hibiscus aromas. Deep and layered palate. Rich, complex, elegant. Well-structured, finishing with fine silky tannins and full depth. This is going to be stellar.
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4/27/2024 - Yassine23 Likes this wine:
Pop and poured. Floral to the max, spicy and red fruited nose. No mistaking it for Burgundy, very Californian but with Clenenden touch. Still has a bit of tannins, on top of the raspberry and red currant flavours, there's also a naruli flavour, very Earl Grey like, reminiscent of soap. Overall, lovely but that naruli flavour is slightly distracting.
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3/23/2024 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep concentrated color and perfectly clear.
Nose is cherries, rhubarb, touch of cola, and clean earth.
Palate is round and juicy and confirms nose. Incredibly profound, integrated and balanced. Mouth coating mid palate with welcome minerality.
One of my favorite Pinots so far this year. I immediately started shopping for more. If I had tasted this blind, it would have fooled me easily. It's just so Burgundian.
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11/30/2023 - happyhyrax Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is nice. Quite complex. Red fruit, floral. Some forest notes. Somewhat short finish is the only mild gripe. Feels like it will be better in a few years, which is a shame as this is my last bottle. Have stoppered and will revisit tomorrow.
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10/18/2023 - RhoneRanger206 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Amazing Pinot. Heavier than others. Ready to drink now.
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6/5/2023 - SteCru1. Likes this wine: 93 Points
Absolutely a gem of a red wine. Blackcurrants, strawberry jam, hay. Usually I decant, but drank this straight from the bottle. Good qpr as well and a very good rival to much more expensive Burgundy wines.
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12/16/2022 - ppandian Likes this wine: 90 Points
Notes of cocoa powder, pure fruit, lean, notes of cherries, chiseled acidic backbone and taut tannins.
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12/9/2022 - ziggecg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fantastic nose of coca cola, ripe red berries, green herbs and hints of vanilla. Taste of red berries, earthy notes and a long aftertaste of licorice. Drinking perfectly right now.
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7/31/2022 - Mr T wrote:
Very nice Pinot
I know that Jim C was known for very expressive and fruited wines but this Pinot clearly looks to Burgundy with restraint, some cranberry and citrus but not overly earthy. Definitely not Syrah in a Pinot bottle. Really pretty
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4/16/2022 - popasq Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent pinot, light and fruity.
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1/13/2022 - Christian Rognes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Don't hold.
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12/1/2021 - Echodog Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow what an amazing Pinot. Pours to a ripe red color in glass. Decantered for 30 mins, delicious rich red fruit aromas pop right at you. Flavors of tart cherry, raspberry with a deep complexity of other red fruits are everywhere in this wine. Med tannins from a med style semi fruit forward wine. This is one to buy a case and drink happily. Not sure why the bottle weighs a ton, but as long as the wine is great who cares.
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11/25/2021 - dhammer53 wrote: 92 Points
Thanksgiving wine. I was anxious to drink this since I met MC at a wine dinner in NYC about 10 years ago. This is a very pretty color. Cherries. A hint of tannins. I'd suggest holding for at least 5 years.
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10/23/2021 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is really drinking nicely right now. No comprehensive notes taken, but this was soft and round with interesting layers and finish. Great with appetizers tonight.
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10/8/2021 - whits Likes this wine: 92 Points
decanted for half an hour, starts off with fresh red fruit and spice scents, medium to full bodied with a tender chew and soft texture, mouthful of flavor, shows dark berry, Asian spices, soy, ripe cherries and earthy nuances on the palate, long, easy, rich, flavorful, well crafted, going to have with Korean BBQ meats later
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9/7/2021 - Dalex Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wins the completion of worlds heaviest bottle.
What’s inside isn’t nearly as exciting, but certainly a well made wine from great Santa Maria fruit. Smoky nose, tart and sour cherry, and a nice lingering finish. Slightly heavier then the average Pinot but very balanced with barely a hint of oak
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8/17/2021 - oropeza Likes this wine:
Crunchy black fruit up front mixed with floral notes, pepper and bramble on the core, good structure, finishes on tartness but not obnoxiously so. Long and lean. Next to a 2017 Vosne-Romanee (Capitain-Gagnerot's Aux Raviolles) this wine is brighter, clearer, less textured and longer. Also $30 less expensive. Also (to me) the more enjoyable wine.
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6/8/2021 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tastes like a Beaune from cooler vintage, which I love. One of the best CA Pinots I have had. Beautiful wine, great crunch.
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6/6/2021 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Birch, black berries, black cherries and a hint of dust. Flavors of black berries, black raspberries and black cherries. Medium to tart acidity, medium to firm tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink over the sort to medium term.
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3/28/2021 - thunberg wrote: 89 Points
Sample from California Wines (88-90)
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3/2/2021 - chbeaumont wrote: 91 Points
Very pale; leans towards black fruits, bold - oak to fore; medium full, more upfront, bigger. Opens out in the glass. Extended. Give this a couple of years.
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2/25/2021 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely, elegant CA Pinot Noir. It has a focus and modesty that is not available in most CA Pinots. Amazing QPR for this level of Pinot. No reason for the crazy heavy bottle. The proof is inside the bottle.
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2/13/2021 - markjanes wrote: 90 Points
Revisting ABC: Tasted alongside 2016 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard and 2016 Pinot Noir “Isabelle.” Fruit is a little riper and dark fruited here... again plenty of very classy baking spice oak aromas as well. on the palate similar to the others showing high acids, good pinot midpalate flesh, low alcohol... the Knox was a step up in tannic structure being very, very firm at the end.
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11/1/2020 - JBroll wrote: flawed
Knox Alexander, named after Jim Clendenens son, is a specially fine pinotnoir. It is intens, lean an silky at the same time. Bright fruit with yammy taste of rasberries and mature strawberry. Lightly oaked and savoury long aftertaste.
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6/13/2020 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
Tasting at Au-Bon Climat: Rich red fruit aromas - fig, cherry, with vanilla bean, allspice, tea leaf and hibiscus aromas. Deep and layered palate. Rich, complex, elegant. Well-structured, finishing with fine silky tannins and full depth. This is going to be stellar.
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