2016 Knox Alexander Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Coming from the Santa Maria Valley (Bien Nacido and Le Bon Climat vineyards) and barrel fermented and aged in new French oak, the 2016 Pinot Noir Knox Alexander has a darker ruby hue as well as a beautiful nose of earthy cherries, forest floor, ground herbs, smoked earth. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and fine tannins, it has subtle background oak and will benefit from a year or three of bottle age and should keep for 15 years or more.
Critic scores
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Pinot Noir Knox Alexander is another head spinning wine in this range. The Knox Alexander is built on a core of Bien Nacido, and then supplemented with other sites that Jim Clendenen has planted over the years. Powerful, rich and also quite tannic, the 2016 is going to need at least a few years in bottle to fully come together. Even in the early going, though, it is very clearly a special wine with tremendous promise. I absolutely love the energy here.
Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir Knox Alexander features scents of dried cranberry and red cherry, orange peel, potpourri and hints of smoked meats over a core of wild blackberry and black raspberry. The palate is light to medium-bodied with spicy fruits, a great frame of grainy tannins and integrated freshness, finishing long. 975 cases produced.