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 Cheers! from the Duke of Bourbon The rain has "exploded with a mighty crash," according to Paul McCartney, but now that it's gone for the moment, it's time to think about spring. Yes, that time when a man's or woman's fancy turns toward long-lasting relationships. Of course, we're referring to the coming releases from Au Bon Climat and Qupe. (That's Bob Lindquist and Jim Clendenen to the right, displaying their wares.) On our annual futures tasting trip to the winery, we had an opportunity to sample some of the wines still in the barrel and we're extremely excited about them. These wines are always impressive and the 2003 vintage is no exception. However, the 2003 vintage is "short"; consequently, many of the wines are very limited. Here is the best of the best. We suggest that you print out the following "email futures catalogue" for more convenient reference. Order early to make sure you can obtain your favorites! Let's start at the beginning. Au Bon Climat struck like a lightning bolt with a selection of Chardonnays that will please the most discriminating palates: 2003 Chardonnay, Sanford & Benedict has a wonderfully spiced-perfume nose and, most importantly, terrific crisp and balanced flavors. It should age nicely for a few years. Release Price $25.00 per bottle - Futures Price $19.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) 2003 Chardonnay, Nuits Blanches is a seductively powerful, rich temptress . . . full, smooth, luscious, intense. Produced from grapes on the dynamic Bien Nacido Vineyard, it rates among California's finest and always gets the big scores. Release Price $45.00 per bottle - Futures Price $35.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) 2002 Clendenen Family Vineyards Chardonnay, Le Bon Climat is totally balanced, elegant and full of promise. The 2001 vintage was re-introduced at our "Super Seminar XXXIII" last December to great acclaim. This is a grand example of what California Chardonnay longs to be - wonderful fruit flavors, good acid structure, buttery texture and a long, lingering finish. Release Price $50.00 per bottle - Futures Price $39.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) Not to be outdone, Qupe chimed in with their 2003 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Reserve, Block Eleven. This wine attacks the senses with an intense fruity nose of apples and melons. It is rich, long-lasting and has plenty of oak, to boot. Only 900 cases were produced. Release Price $27.50 per bottle - Futures Price $21.99 per bottle (Release Date: June 1, 2005) 2003 Roussanne, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate is now designated as Bob Lindquist's flagship white Rhone-style wine. The rich, florally scented nose is followed by a bounty of luscious fruit with hints of honey and a smooth velvety finish. Release Price $40.00 per bottle - Futures Price $31.99 (Release Date: June 1, 2005) Staying with the white wines, Au Bon Climat 2003 Hildegard, a Charlemagne-era blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Aligote, is one for the ages. It is an intriguing and joyful experience. Sweet on the nose, but wow, oh wow, what an encounter! Lots of ripe tropical fruit that will make you beg for more. Release Price $35.00 per bottle - Futures Price $27.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) Leaping over to the Reds, we fell into a web of contentment over Au Bon Climat's Pinot Noirs: 2003 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria has a light ruby color accentuated by bright strawberry and cherry fruit. It is very quaffable and very affordable. Release Price $25.00 per bottle - Futures Price $19.99 per bottle (Release Date: April 15, 2005) 2003 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict is, according to ABC proprietor/winemaker Jim Clendenen, his best ever from this vineyard! Lush is the operating word to describe this wine . . . lush in color, lush on the nose . . . a sensationally dominating adventure. Only 150 cases were produced. Release Price $50.00 per bottle - Futures Price $39.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) 2003 Pinot Noir, Knox Alexander, named for Jim & Morgan Clendenen's son, is an understated, intriguingly complex wine showing sweet fruit balanced with a great finish. There's something here for everyone. Release Price $45.00 per bottle - Futures Price $35.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) 2003 Pinot Noir, Isabelle Morgan, named for the couple's daughter, has a deep, rich color. Dip your nose into your glass and give your senses a treat! Isabelle is a selection of the best barrels of the vintage and we are sure Jim had a difficult time selecting just these barrels. Yikes, this is what Pinot Noir is all about! Release Price $50.00 per bottle - Futures Price $45.00 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) Our last Pinot Noir is from Ici/La-Bas: 2002 Pinot Noir, Mendocino is a tasty beauty that features excellent rich Pinot Noir fruit flavors akin to the wonderful Ici/La-Bas Pinots of the past. It is elegant, not overpowering. Release Price $25.00 per bottle - Futures Price $19.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) The fun doesn't stop. Here are some of Qupe's really big small productions of Syrah and one special blended wine: 2003 Los Olivos Cuvee makes you think of rich French Cotes du Rhones and then transports you to this heavenly spot in Santa Maria. Breathe in the intense, perfumed nose, taste the sweet fruit with balanced, bright tannins and feel the full and luxuriant body. Release $22.00 per bottle - Futures Price $17.60 (Release Date: September 1, 2005) 2003 Syrah, Alisos Vineyard is a first for proprietor/winemaker Bob Lindquist. This blockbuster is super unique. The 150-case production features grapes that had an extra-long hang-time on lignified stems (already beginning to turn to wood). You could see through a black hole before you could see through this wine . . . a fruit bomb with rich tannins. Release Price $40.00 per bottle - Futures Price $31.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) 2003 Syrah, Stolpman Vineyards is a 100-case production of deep, dark, richly colored wine with lots of fruit and pepper flavors. "More, more, more!" was the rallying cry. Release Price $35.00 per bottle - Futures Price $27.99 per bottle (Release Date: April 1, 2005) 2003 Syrah, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate has to be the piece de resistance. Again, you couldn't see through this wine with an electron microscope! You will spend hours just admiring the nose, then taste the very ripe fruit and experience the great structure. Big, big, big. Top of the line! Yep, we liked this one a lot! Release Price $40.00 per bottle - Futures Price $31.99 per bottle (Release Date: September 1, 2005) Keep an eye on your inbox. Other Central Coast futures are coming soon! Save the date - March 9, 2005 - for the Wine Association's 2003 Futures Tasting Seminar at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills. The lucky folks in the Los Angeles area will be able to meet Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat, Bob Lindquist of Qupe and Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley of Hitching Post Winery and taste some of their wines for themselves. Think of fine wine! Think of the Duke! Home Vine-Line Join Our Mailing List Private Cellars Email Specials Currently Available Wine Futures Duke's Gift Catalog Recent Arrivals Big Bottle Bonanza Email the Duke Wine Association Events Duke's Wine Library Vine-Line Back Issues Map to the Duke Terminal 55 Wine Storage Lockers 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 Web Page Production by Fuji Publishing Group. 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