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One of our recent discussions here at the Duke was about collectible wines. Truly collectible wines are rare and special - top-notch wines with very limited production and the ability to age well. It occurred to us that we had offered two such wines earlier in the year without really pointing out that fact to the collectors out there. Here are the two we were considering from our good friends at Au Bon Climat and Qupe. These are perfect wines to cellar and drink.

Warning: Hedonism is the enemy of collectors. If you try them early, the urge to consume may overcome that deferred gratification thing. Not necessarily bad in and of itself, but, with such limited production, finding more will not be an option.

Andy Abramson, wine critic for the Del Mar Times and editor of Wine Scene is one of the very few members of the wine press to have tasted these wines. His quotes follow our notes.

Qupe 2005 Syrah, Bien Nacido, X Block
Regular Price: $75.00 Futures Price: $59.99 Available: 09/01/07 - (A mere 150 cases produced)

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.

Abramanson had this to say about Bob's efforts: "Fans of Bob Lindquist and Qupe will want to insure they find some of what may be Bob's best wine ever. The 2005 Qupe "Bien Nacido - X Block" Santa Maria Valley syrah is a mind numbing, big-boned, muscular red that is reminiscent of the finest clape cornas [sic] from the Northern Rhone. It is a wine for the ages, and likely will be best in 15 to 20 years."

Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, 30th Harvest Selection
Regular Price: $75.00 Futures Price: $59.99 Available: 09/01/07 - (Only 220 cases produced)

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 - 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.

Andy's notes on this beauty: "The same wine raves also rings true for pal Jim Clendenen [Ed. note: Refers to rave about Qupe wine described above] whose two new pinot noirs are also wines for the ages. The 2005 Au Bon Climat "30th harvest" pinot noir is something out of Beaune in France. Jim has somehow found a way to transport the better of what one finds in Burgundy and produced a monumental wine that defies the imagination. It may be the finest wine he has ever made and without a doubt was the wine of the event."

Andy's comments certainly reflect our opinion of these wines when we first tasted them at the winery last January and again at our Central Coast Futures seminar in March. These are best efforts from great winemakers in a nearly perfect vintage - a rare and welcome convergence.

Don't miss out on these one-of-a-kind wines from the Central Coast!
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Note: Prices are good while our supplies last and we reserve the right to change them at any time without notice.