Duke of Bourbon: E-mail Specials

For over 30 years, we have been pleased to be able to offer wine futures from some of California's and France's finest wineries. This gives our treasured customers not only a chance to purchase rare and hard-to-find wines, but to be able to save a good deal of money by ordering in advance.

Among the first futures programs we have each year are the wines of Au Bon Climat, Qupe and Hitching Post. All three wineries are owned by close friends of the Duke and produce some of California's finest wines.

Located on the California Central Coast in the Santa Maria Valley, both ABC and Qupe have attained world-class status and, since "Sideways," Hitching Post has become iconic. Their wines are sold around the globe at many of the world's finest wine shops and restaurants. They are featured regularly in newspapers and magazines all across America.

On the Duke's recent road trip, we visited both Jim Clendenen (ABC) and Bob Lindquist (Qupe) at their unique, under-one-roof winery and tasted many, many upcoming releases. We also had the opportunity to visit with Frank Ostini (HP) and sample his and his partner Gray Hartley's offerings. We are pleased to offer these wines on "future" or "near-future".

All of the wines are discounted up to 20% or more from their release prices. See each wine's write-up for pricing information.

Believe us when we say these are all superior wines and deserve your attention. You are welcome to call and speak to any of our staff members and they will be happy to help you make your selections.

Thank you for taking the time to read the following notes. We suggest you print this catalogue and enjoy reading it at your leisure. Many of the wines described will be available to taste at The Wine Association's "Sooner or Later" seminar on March 29, 2007. Call the Duke for more details and to make reservations.

Before we start with the wines, here are some notes of general interest about the offering.

2005 Vintage
The 2005 vintage appears to be a very successful vintage in a large part of the wine world, but it is extraordinary in the Central Coast of California. 2005 was a generous harvest that reached balanced maturity with sufficient acidity and a pH that will allow bottle evolution. The wines are deep, seamless, and delicious. Quotes from the winemakers include: "2005 was an amazing vintage for both quality and quantity and, in fact, it's one of the best vintages I've seen in my 27 years on the Central Coast. The grapes had impeccable balance and flavor intensity and the perfect weather allowed us to really dial in the harvest sugars"(Lindquist), "11 on a 1-10 scale"(Jim Adelman), "a vintage to invest in" (Clendenen) and "I may never get this kind of opportunity to get this degree of quality and ageability again in this lifetime!" (Clendenen)

Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection (H. V. C.) (from Au Bon Climat)
Jim Clendenen has been making wine in the Central Coast for nearly 30 years. This year, he decided to look back at his "roots" and honor the vineyards that furnished grapes for his (and others') ground-breaking wines that put the area firmly on the world's winemaking map. The Historic Vineyards Collection notation on the label is being used to highlight the original important sites that distinguished Santa Barbara County.

Au Bon Climat, Clendenen Family Vineyards and Ici/La-Bas

White Wines

Au Bon Climat 2005 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido (H.V.C.)
Regular Price: $30.00 Futures Price: $23.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
This is a wine that will live a long time, but brings to the glass an enjoyable Crenshaw melon bouquet with citrus notes and lots of Chardonnay fruit on the palate. Barrel-fermented in neutral oak, this wine has good acid structure that almost demands the classic pairing with seafood. (180 cases produced)

Au Bon Climat 2005 Chardonnay, Los Alamos (H.V.C.)
Regular Price: $25.00 Futures Price: $19. 99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
A bright yellow color with aromas of citrus and a bit of grapefruit, this wine was barrel-fermented in neutral oak. Its earthy aromas and mouth-filling flavors reminded the tasters of Montrachet. A delicious wine and a fantastic bargain. (200 cases produced)

Au Bon Climat 2005 Chardonnay, Sanford & Benedict (H.V.C.)
Regular Price: $30.00 Futures Price: $23.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Here is a pale straw-colored wine with clean, fresh aromas and flavors. After a honeyed-apple nose, the wine exhibits a palate of crisp acidity and pleasant mineral character one would expect in a great Chablis. A wine with good aging potential.

Red Wines

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido (H.V.C.)
Regular Price: $40.00 Futures Price: $31.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Judicious use of stem retention and some whole-cluster fermentation produced a wine full of dark fruit aromas, a hint of briar patch and lots of spice in a package full of distinctive, classic Pinot Noir character. Clear, with red fruit on the nose, spicy aromas and good acid, the wine will certainly prove to be ageworthy. (150 cases produced)

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, Nielson (H.V.C.)
Regular Price: $50.00 Futures Price: $39.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Jim has produced an elegant, powerful and pure Pinot Noir, perhaps one of his best. Good fruit and some smokiness on the nose opens to a staggeringly rich, sweet, fruit-filled taste. The acid, tannin and fruit are in near-perfect balance. Clendenen's deft Burgundian touch shows through. This is a "must-buy," especially at this price. (220 cases produced)

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, La Bauge au Dessus
Regular Price: $30.00 Futures Price: $23.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Another real crowd-pleaser from the "Mind Behind." Full and rich with plum and warm spice flavors, this may be the best "La Bauge" ever! Good acidity and mild tannins make it a fine all-around wine for everyday drinking and one that would not be out of place at dinner with your wine-knowledgeable friends.

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict (H.V.C.)
Regular Price: $50.00 Futures Price: $39.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
This beauty has a pretty, dark-garnet color and earth and spice on both the nose and the palate. It is dense and delicious with blackberry and huckleberry notes derived from the whole-cluster fermentation. Good acid, bold tannins and a long, lingering finish are characteristics that make this wine a classic.

Ici/La-Bas 2005 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, Elke Vineyard
Regular Price: $25.00 Futures Price: $19.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Jim finds great fruit "here and there" and the Anderson Valley venue is the source of this terrific wine and great value. Loads of full fruit flavors follow a nose of dark spice. The wine has good body, acid and tannin and is perfect for everyday drinking. The 2005 vintage is as good in the North Coast as in the Central Coast.

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, Le Bon Climat
Regular Price: $35.00 Futures Price: $27.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
Here is a wine from Jim's own property. Dark garnet in color with a rich spicy nose, the flavors are of dark fruit and earth. Good acid and solid tannins are hallmarks of both the vintage and the winemaker. A showy wine in the Gevrey-Chambertin style.

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, Talley-Rincon
Regular Price: $40.00 Futures Price: $31.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
Jim refers to the Talley-Rincon bottling as a "big" wine and it has always been one of his top-of-the line efforts. It has sweet, forward fruit flavors of plum and black fruit, good acid and firm, yet supple, tannins. Think Chambertin. Well-defined and with all the goodies, this is one that will cellar exceptionally well.

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, Knox Alexander
Regular Price: $45.00 Futures Price: $35.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
If it's delicious you want, then here we have it. Supple, full, concentrated, and packed with juicy flavors of chocolate, and raspberries. With those big bold flavors and solid tannins, this is a wine for the hedonists among us. Knox is a mix of 50% domestic clones and 50% Dijon Clones and is clearly an ABC wine at full throttle and one of their best. (500 cases produced)

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict, Select
Regular Price: $50.00 Futures Price: $39.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
Only three barrels of this beauty were produced. It has the attributes of the Sanford & Benedict described above =E2=80=93 and more, including dark color with mocha notes on the nose and dark fruit on the palate. Jim says, "Think Richebourg or La Tache!"

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, Isabelle Morgan
Regular Price: $50.00 Futures Price: $39.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
Isabelle is a blend of the best barrels and the best sites from a sensational vintage. This is a most generous wine with a rich ruby color and a sweet, almost perfumy nose with hints of mint chocolate and dark fruit. Isabelle's elegant nature prevents us from calling it a blockbuster, but it is certainly a top-notch wine with fine tannins and good acid. (300 cases produced)

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, 30th Harvest Selection
Regular Price: $75.00 Futures Price: $59.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
This is Jim's 30th harvest selection from his Bien Nacido Estate plantings. It includes all 777 clone fruit from Block Eleven that normally goes into the Knox cuvee, but it was kept separate and fermented with 25% whole clusters. It is an excellent example of Pinot Noir =E2=80=93 an iron fist in a velvet glove. Bold and Burgundian, concentrated and full, it is a classic. It follows the ABC tradition of making wines that are pleasing in their youth, yet will greatly reward patience if held for the future. (220 cases produced)

Clendenen Family Vineyards 2004 Pinot Noir, Le Bon Climat
Regular Price: $60.00 Futures Price: $47.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
The Le Bon Climat Vineyard is owned by Jim and the vines are still fairly young. The wines are beginning to come into their own. This one has plenty of fruit of the raspberry, cranberry, and cherry type. Complexity from barrel vinification yields notes of earth, toast, tea, dried leaves, flowers, and citrus peel. Classy and elegant, it is a wine that will appeal to old world Pinot Noir lovers. (150 cases produced)

Qupe

White WinesQupe 2005 Roussanne
Regular Price: $40.00 Futures Price: $31.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
These Roussanne grapes are grown on a steep, cold, west-facing hillside at Bien Nacido and proprietor/winemaker Bob Lindquist feels they were among the best grapes he has ever seen come off this vineyard. The numbers at harvest were 24.2 degrees brix with a stunningly low pH of 3.18 and an intensely high acidity of 9.9 that gives the wine mouthwatering acidity. Fermented and aged entirely in once-used barrels, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. This is classic Roussanne =E2=80=93 packed with pear fruit, minerals and wet stone. The wine has superb balance befitting the great vintage. This is a white wine that, while delicious now, will age for a decade or more. (620 cases produced)

Red Wines

Qupe 2005 Syrah, Purisima
Regular Price: $35.00 Futures Price: $27.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Dark and luscious with a blueberry nose and a palate of sweet, dark fruit, here is an elegant example of the blockbuster wines from Qupe. The tannins are complemented nicely by the fruit and the wine is well-balanced with a long and satisfying finish.

Qupe 2005 Syrah, Alisos (Old Vines)
Regular Price: $35.00 Futures Price: $27.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
Alisos is a standout wine in the portfolio of single-vineyard wines that Bob produces. This is a very firm wine and it will evolve slowly in the glass as you drink it and in the bottle as you (hopefully) age it. The wine is full of deep raspberry, hints of cassis, bits of licorice (both red and black) and lots of old-world peppery characteristics. With these firm tannins, early openings need decanting. (100 cases produced)

Qupe 2005 Syrah, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate
Regular Price: $45.00 Futures Price: $35.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
Bob assures us that this is one of the best Hillside Estates ever since the 1998 and 2001 vintages. This is a textbook example of cool-climate Syrah. Powerful, but with perfect balance, it is spicy and peppery (both black and white) with toasty-mocha, oak notes and charcoal. Complex, yet silky on the palate, this is a wine hitting on all cylinders. (100 cases produced)

Qupe 2005 Syrah, Bien Nacido, X Block
Regular Price: $75.00 Futures Price: $59.99 Available: Later (09/01/07)
This is a very special wine from a very special vintage. X Block is the original Syrah block at Bien Nacido. These grapes came from the last pick very late in the season, so the grapes were fully mature, very intense and had a long hang time, with brown (not green) stems. Bob refers to this wine as "Bien Nacido Syrah to the max!" It has huge spice and pepper, a deep garnet color, berries everywhere, with rosemary and thyme notes from the stem inclusion. This is the biggest, most intense Syrah Bob has ever made. It is the perfect choice to lay down for 20 or so years. (150 cases produced)

Hitching Post

Hitching Post 2005 Pinot Noir, Cork Dancer 5.1
Regular Price: $27.00 Futures Price: $21.60 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Here's a Pinot in the straight-ahead and right-at-you style with not much oak, since the focus is on the fruit. It has cherry and strawberry notes with good acidity and mild tannins and is meant to be drunk and enjoyed in its youth. Balanced and tasty.

Hitching Post 2005 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria
Regular Price: $32.00 Futures Price: $25.60 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
With grapes primarily from the Bien Nacido Vineyard, this is a very approachable wine with ripe, jammy fruit character. Hard to pin down, since the wine changes in the glass, but the ripe cherry flavors are abundant. A wine to enjoy while both you and the wine are young.

Hitching Post 2005 Pinot Noir, Highliner
Regular Price: $42.00 Futures Price: $33.60 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Proprietor/winemaker Frank Ostini tells us that this is the "best wine that Hitching Post can do" and that it is "most expressive of the vintage and the vineyards." It is very aromatic, full of exotic dark fruit and perfume. Low in alcohol, it is somewhat restrained on the palate and is made to go with food. Highliner is usually a wine to be drunk in its early years, but the 2005 vintage, while eminently drinkable now, will benefit from a few years of cellaring.

Hitching Post 2005 Generation Red
Regular Price: $18.00 Futures Price: $14.40 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
Generation Red is a tasty blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Refusco. Best described as rustic, Gen Red is made to be an "everyday" wine and to go with food. Lightly oaked, it has dark fruit flavors with dusty, smoky overtones. Think grilled meat as a companion.

Hitching Post 2005 Syrah, Big Circle
Regular Price: $25.00 Futures Price: $19.99 Available: Soon (05/01/07)
"Big Circle" brings together several of the finest Syrah vineyards in Santa Barbara County - Alisos, White Hawk and Purisima Mountain. This young and appealingly rustic Syrah exudes wild, brambly, pepper-spiked aromatics and is fully loaded with dark blackberry fruit backed by fine-grained tannins. Delicious now (as well as a great value), it will just get better with time as the flavors further integrate and evolve.