Vintage Clendenen Family Vineyards Rancho La Cuna Pinot 2012

Jim Clendenen was famous for producing internationally acclaimed Pinot Noir & Chardonnay in California. Amongst the region’s top producers, the wines he started producing in 1982 set the standard for modern, terroir-driven Californian wine from Burgundian grapes. Wines under the Clendenden Family Vineyards label are not just another label – this was a project of passion for Jim. These are artisan, nuanced wines from small lots producing distinctive wines that have had the luxury to be in the barrel as long as they need it. Long-lived, food-friendly, with firm acidity and moderate alcohol, they are really special parts of Jim’s story that we are honoured to import and represent in the UK.

Rancho La Cuna is the vineyard situated at Jim’s ranch and his home. It is a small vineyard (about 15 acres) with vines situated on steep hillsides. It produces Pinot Noir that is dark and meaty with outstanding complexity. The wine was aged in the best new French oak barrels for 24 months and bottled without filtration.

The 2012 vintage is the recent library release from the estate’s cellar. Pops with cranberry, mushroom and thyme on the umami-packed nose. The palate is dominated by thyme and sagebrush notes, where the tart cranberry and blistered tomato core meet with a smoked-meat flavour. Deliciously complex to drink now and could develop further for another 5 years.