Dear Friends,
I humbly offer you my 5th anniversary 2008 vintage wines from La Fenêtre. These wines are the culmination of 5 years of winemaking, 11 years of tasting experience, and more than 500 years of tradition. 8 different expressions of terroir from cool climate, coastal, Santa Barbara County. To honor the 2008 releases I hosted a dinner in May of 2010 to taste every wine that I have produced. It was an especially great evening because I was able to see firsthand that the wines I am producing are not only aging well, but aging so slowly that you should be able to enjoy all of your cellared La Fenêtre treasures for years to come. Of special note are all four of the wines from the 2004 vintage (labeled under 'Timeless Palates Wines'). In each wine there was a stunning clarity and focus, and a liveliness that showed an evolution of character, but the structure for continued development. Complete tasting notes here.
I started making wine to bring classic winemaking back to California and to continue the work that was started by the pioneer winemakers in this country. In learning from Bob Lindquist and Jim Clendenen, I am directly channeling the lessons of their heroes, mentors, and friends... winemakers like Henri Jayer, Etienne Guigal, Aubert De Villaine (DRC), and Didier Dagueneau. Why three different single vineyard Chardonnays? Why three different single vineyard Pinot Noirs? Why cool climate Syrah? Why sustainable farming practices? Because this is what I do. I bring a time and place to your evening, to your meal, and to your lips as you enjoy a good conversation, book, movie, or cheese. When you taste my wine- you can think of no other place, vintage, or winemaker that could have made that wine possible. This is not the healthiest period financially that the wine industry has seen, and it is definitely like nothing I have ever experienced. It is exciting, though, because in this economy the seeds are germinating for the creation and growth of a more sustainable, more exciting, more relevant, and healthier wine industry. It is an industry that is learning firsthand that quality is more important than hype, marketing, and even critical acclaim. That a high price doesn't necessarily mean good, and that good intention is made obvious through the hard work of people who care, who desire to improve, and to enjoy life more.
The wines in this release include Chardonnays from Los Alamos (bright, fresh, nutty), Sierra Madre (lemon tart, tea leaves, cream), and Bien Nacido (rich, mineral, velvety). The Pinots include Los Alamos (Nuits-Saint-Georges-like, musky, barnyard), Sierra Madre (Volnay with high toned red fruit), and Le Bon Climat (Vosne-Romanee... rich, structured, perfect). Syrah from Alisos is more giving than the '07 and ready for a long decant or rest in a cool dark place, and finally the anniversary Rosé (22 cases made). 85% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, and structured like vintage Rosé Champagne sans bubbles... I drank 8 cases already this summer, so order quickly as there are only 14 left...
***If you place your order before September 30th, 2010, use the code FALL2010LF to receive 15% off of your order, just for being a member of the esteemed La Fenêtre mailing list!***
I believe that wine is subjective, that tastes and attitudes change with the time of day, what you ate, and how you are feeling. Take the following tasting notes as a guide, not as gospel, and trust that the wines are good, that you will like them, and that they will like you too...
Thank you for the past 5 amazing years, cheers to another 5!!!
Joshua Klapper
p.s. The web store is still new, so if you encounter any difficulties in placing your order, please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ASAP and I will attempt to rectify the issue immediately! If you would like to place an order by phone, call me at 310-977-5615. If you would like to email or fax in your order, you can download an order form here. Wines will be delivered after October1st.
