Au Bon Climat, Santa Barbara County, Pinot Noir, 2023, 13.5% abv.
Nose: initially grape juice, then some moldy wood, bad clove-like spices, is this old dill? old herbs, dried citrus rinds, whithering rose petals. I actually washed my glass, got a new glass, went to a shot glass… all strange.
Palate: light to medium body, entry is light woody juice, hint of unripe cherries, then it transitions to a mid palate that has some light bitter fruit rinds, more unripe cherries and cranberries, weird cooking spices. A bit confused. Back palate has a hint of chalky pear juice mixed with coppery raspberry juice, a sort of chalky vanilla emerges, alcohol is noticeable. Strange one.
Finish: medium to long, dry, red fruit flavored chalk, generic yellow fruits, light vanilla powder, significant white bread and tannins rubbing the teeth like boiled spinach in the long game.
Vernacular: nose is more secondary than primary, with various spices and flora. Medium body, dry, light acidity, medium secondary effects, light minerality, fine grained tannins, light alcohol. Medium dry finish reflecting the palate.
Strange one. I don't know how it would evolve with a few more years. Prefer previous recent vintages. Got this for about KRW₩28K, which at the time waa about USD$21, in Busan, South Korea. The 2022 ABC PN was spectacular… this was a dud. Heard the 2024 was out. Gonna commit some infantcide soon… typical.
Grade: C+
by starvinggigolo