AJ McClellan
Now everyone knows Jim Clendenen is a zany guy, but he surely knows how to make wine. I just tasted this 20 minutes ago and was blown away. With Pinot Gris(Beurrot), Pinot Blanc, and Aligote as the blend, these vines are supposed to resemble cuttings from Le Corton. During the reign of Charlemagne, the vines were planted for his wife Empress Hildegard, of which she absolutely loved.
2004 Au Bon Climat “Hildegard” Santa Maria Valley - Beautiful, pure, fresh and delightful, with superb balance right from the start. This wine has a terrific depth of fruit with unripe green apple, pear, and unripe peach. The sense of grace and harmony are overwhelming with the excellent balance of the wine. Toffee, light caramel, toast, and popcorn insure balance and a finish of limestone minerality that lingers for a good 45 second gives me the impression of a great Corton Charlemagne.
