2022 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Isabelle
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Tasting notes
A California-wide barrel selection of destemmed lots, the 2022 Pinot Noir Isabelle, also aged entirely in new oak, opens with a comparatively more transparent and lifted bouquet than the Knox Alexander bottling. The palate offers no shortage of ripe, dense concentration and wood-derived framing, closing with a suave finish propelled by red-fruited vibrancy that adds a welcome dose of energy.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
I loved the nose on the 2022 Pinot Noir Isabelle, a 100% Pinot Noir that was completely destemmed and aged 24 months in 100% new French oak. It offers ripe redcurrants, framboise, spice, and bergamot tea-like nuances on the nose. Incredibly complex and nuanced aromatically, it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a pure, polished mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and nicely integrated tannins and oak. Drink bottles over the coming 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2035.
Very earthy and un-California but delicious! Delightfully complex and lifted. (JR)
The 2022 Pinot Noir Isabelle is a barrel selection from a variety of sites. The 2022 is very, very ripe, verging on volatile, with powerful, extracted brambly fruit and cola-like nuances. Aging in mostly new oak for two years in barrel yielded a big, modern wine that feels a bit out of step with the house style. That, coupled with the warmth of the vintage, pushed this right to the edge, but it holds together. Drink this in the near term.