Clendenen Family Vineyards "Rancho La Cuna" Pinot Noir, Santa Maria, California 2019

FROM AU BON CLIMAT:

THE WINE: The vines at Rancho La Cuna are situated on steep hillsides. The Pinot section is planted mainly to clone 115 with a small amount of 828. All of our Pinot Noir is hand-picked, and processed soon after harvest. The grapes arrive at the winery cool, have a slow, cool fermentation, and are manually punched down at least two times per day to gently extract all the "good stuff" from the grapes. After fermentation, the wine is aged in 100% new François Frères French oak barrels for 24 months, then bottled without filtration. Rancho La Cuna Pinots are not simple fruit bombs. They are supple, elegant, and so well balanced that the many varied flavors coexist harmoniously all in one wine. The wine will continue to age gracefully for ten to fifteen years though they have aged well for much longer.

THE PRODUCER: Jim Clendenen often dreamed of having a small winery where commerce was not the driving force. Instead, the dream was to have the luxury to keep wines long in barrel should they need it (5 years for the Nebbiolo!); to explore offbeat varietals and idiosyncratic styles because they are interesting. Created in 2000, the Clendenen Family brand is a project of passion. There is no doubt quality is here along with the ABC signature of balance, finesse, and longevity.