20908 Roscoe Blvd • Canoga Park CA 91304 Hours: Mon - Sat • 9AM - 6PM

Phone: (818) 341-1234 • Fax: (818) 341-9232 Outside California: (800) 4-FINE-WINE

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Pinot Noir Par Excellence
Cheers from the Duke of Bourbon!

Pinot Noir can be a contrary devil to corral, but it is so incredibly seductive when done well. The Duke, past master at mixing metaphors, is also proficient at finding those Pinot Noirs that are particularly well done.

One of our finds is the outstanding Flying Goat Cellars 2001 Pinot Noir. Winemaker Norm Yost likes to say that Pinot Noir is "delicious, intriguing and complex when coaxed into becoming wine." James Laube, Senior Editor of the Wine Spectator, must think that Norm did just the right amount of coaxing when he wrote in a recent article: "Medium ruby color, with rhubarb, spicy cherry and vanilla scents that turn to anise and earth. A lighter style than most of the barrel samples, aiming for elegance and restraint." The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered and is made to be enjoyed now and over the next 6-8 years. We are bringing the results of Norm's coaxing to you at just $32.00 per bottle. And the label is not baaaaaad either! (Sorry about that, but we are fond of the occasional pun.)

Another of our finds is Sea Smoke Cellars, a new winery in the Santa Rita Hills appellation of the Central Coast and already rapidly moving toward cult status. Named for the marine layer of clouds that blow in each afternoon to cool the grapes, Sea Smoke is committed to producing the finest Pinot Noir. We have been able to obtain a few cases of their incredible 2001 Botella Pinot Noir. James Laube rated it 90-94 points on a 100 point scale based on a barrel sample. We were fortunate enough to taste it and could not agree more. Earthy and rich - just dynamite! Production is limited, so we must limit purchases to 3 bottles at a surprisingly low $24.99 per bottle.

You have heard us sing the praises of Jim Clendenen's Pinot Noirs before. His success with Pinot Noir is well known and his effort with Russian River fruit, Barham Mendelsohn 2000 Pinot Noir, is particularly intriguing. We were lucky to acquire the last few cases of the vintage. It can be described as delicate with bright cherry fruit and has been called an iron fist in a velvet glove. The wine retailed in many stores for $50.00 per bottle. The Duke is bringing it to you at $39.99 per bottle, a significant savings. In fact, buy a six pack or more and pay only $37.50 per bottle (an additional savings of 5%.)

As hard as Pinot Noir is to produce, it is even harder to find a good one that is also a good bargain. Trust the Duke. You are undoubtedly familiar with Gloria Ferrer's excellent sparkling wines from the Carneros region. Not surprisingly, they also make several excellent still wines. We have the Gloria Ferrer 1998 Pinot Noir available for just $7.99 per bottle (originally $24.00 per bottle.) This is their first Pinot Noir intended solely as a still wine and has the earthy nose and cherry flavors we've come to expect from great Pinot Noir. It has enough bottle age to bring all the components into exquisite balance. Great bargain - Great wine.

Call the Duke without delay.


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We are Happy to Deliver or Ship!
Just Call (818) 341-1234 or outside California (800) 4-FINE-WINE
Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM - 6PM Pacific Time

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