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He wrestled with the problems of showing wind on water, or of the warmth seeping into a woman's skin under a sunny sky. "Lebasque's primary concerns, in the majority of his work, were with simple expression of sensuous surface. Bazetoux, Henri Lebasque, Catalogue raisonné, vol. Private collection, Miami (acquired at the above sale).ĭ. Preston, New York (by descent from the above, and sold: Sotheby's, New York, November 7, 2013, lot 125). Try wines from producers like Ken Brown, Ampelos, Fess Parker and Melville.Īs you can see, California’s Central Coast offers a wealth of options for any lover of Pinot Noir.Nu assis sur un canapé près de la fenêtre
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Once again the result is extended hang time for the grapes, which can be tasted in the vibrant, ripe red fruits evident in these Pinots, along with dense coloration and an impression of richness and intensity. Located in the western part of the Santa Ynez Valley, it too benefits from an east-west orientation that leads to the same conditions mentioned above. Rita Hills, also in Santa Barbara County. The famous Bien Nacido Vineyard is located here, and notable producers include Cambria, Foxen, Byron and Au Bon Climat.įinally, we arrive at the Sta.
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This effect lengthens the growing season and promotes both ripeness and development of acidity, lending Santa Maria Valley Pinots their characteristic full flavor, balance and elegance. A mere 15 miles from the Pacific, the valley runs east-west, creating a natural tunnel through which ocean breezes and fog flow.
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The Santa Maria Valley in northern Santa Barbara County (a section of it falls into southern San Luis Obispo County) is also a haven for quality Pinot Noir. Look for producers like Siduri, Kosta Browne, Talbott and Lucienne. Attributes include intense, rich fruit, subtle earthy notes, spice and a silky texture. Situated on hilly benchlands south of the city of Monterey, this central coast region relies on a long growing season, night and morning fog and consistent afternoon winds to produce world class Pinot Noir. The most highly regarded of these is the Santa Lucia Highlands. Monterey Pinot Noir is grown in coastal areas, taking optimal advantage of the cooling effect of the Pacific. Just south lies the large Monterey appellation. Yet Pinots from the likes of David Bruce, Martin Ray, Mount Eden and Thomas Fogarty exhibit undeniable quality, along with bright red fruit, minerality, earth and herbal hints. The land is mountainous, rugged and can be foggy, the topsoil is thin and poor and yields tend to be low. In the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, just west of Silicon Valley, producers craft excellent Pinot in spite of serious challenges. These are not the only Central Coast sources of good Pinot Noir, but they are the major ones. So we’ll break things down a bit with a brief look at each of these: Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey and the Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley and Sta.
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This of course is because the Central Coast appellation is enormous, and it contains several stellar Pinot Noir regions within it, all of them kept cool by elevation or proximity to the ocean (or both). Let’s start with the obvious – Central Coast Pinot Noir is an incredibly broad category. They then spend 11-18 months in small French barrels before being bottled. Whites are whole cluster pressed, allowed to settle for one day and fermented in barrel where they undergo the alcoholic fermentation and then 100% Malolactic fermentation.
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The free run juice is then collected, the must is gently pressed, and the wine is aged in small French barrels for 11-23 months before being bottled. Reds are destemmed into 1½ ton fermenters and punched down by hand until dry. Wherever possible, La Fenêtre is committed to sustainable, organic, and biodynamic vineyard practices. All grapes are harvested around 23.5īrix (13.5-14% Alc.). (Qupé), and Jim Adelman (Makor) a classic technique and delicate hand is always employed in the winery. Having apprenticed with some of California and the world’s best winemakers, namely Jim Clendenen (Au Bon Climat), Bob Lindquist I chose Santa Barbara because of its unique terroir which allows me to produce a range of varietals in a Sommelier, and then visiting the winemakers and the places I loved it was time to get my hands dirty. After working with the wines professionally as a "I founded La Fenêtre in 2005 after repeated trips to the Santa Barbara County wine country.
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