2021 Au Bon Climat, Isabelle, Pinot Noir, California, USA

The 2021 follows on from the 2020 with a wonderfully exuberant and carefree character, right from the initial impact on the nose. Strawberry and a wealth of other red fruits abound, yet there is a firm core there as well, giving restraint as well as longevity. Isabelle is a blend of the best barrels from the best vineyards, rather than a single-vineyard wine, and wholly deserves its place alongside its more reserved Knox Alexander sibling. Ebullient yet intense, this has a great future ahead.