**ONLY 5 VERTICALS AVAILABLE**

A fabulous gift idea for the Pinot Noir lover closest to your heart!!! The Pinot Noir that started it all for Ken Bernards' Ancien brand. This is a "vertical" collection of the Ancien Carneros Pinot Noirs from the first 5 years of this millennium. Experience the evolution of Ken Bernards' Carneros project while also being able to truly discern vintage variation.

The "Vertical" includes one bottle of Ancien Carneros Pinot Noir from the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 vintages.


Tasting notes from Proprietor & Winemaker Ken Bernards:

2000: "Deep garnet color. Layered aromas of raspberry, rich blackberry and black cherry fruit with spice, coffee, cocoa/chocolate. The palate is full and velvety in texture, bursting with blackberry/cherry fruit, anise, chocolate, and coffee. The finish is long and focused with lingering bright fruit and bright acidity. The wine has underlying tannic structure and will age nicely, unfolding additional layers with time."

2001: "Trademark deep garnet color. Dark berry fruits layered with hints of cocoa powder and lightly-roasted espresso. Full-bodied for a Pinot Noir, the dark fruit and spice flavors dance all over the palate. The finish is long with focused acidity and just enough tannins to play with your senses for nearly a minute once the wine is swallowed."

2002: "Full bodied, dense and layered fruit ranging from blackberry, black cherry, to brighter strawberry and raspberry notes. Rich dark chocolate, sandalwood and a slight gaminess/earthiness add layer in to the predominating fruit. All this is framed by nuances of smoke, toasted wood and baking spices. Beneath the sweet fruit are round tannins providing nice structure and focused acidity ensuring excellent length and a nice balance boding well for medium term aging."

2003: "Lushly-textured with spice and dark layered fruit ranging from blackberry, black cherry, to brighter strawberry and raspberry notes. Rich dark chocolate, sandalwood and a slight earthiness add layers to the rich fruit. Framed by nuances of smoke, toasted wood and baking spices. Nice acidity and velvety tannins carry through in the long finish."

2004: "Dense, brooding flavors with spice, smoke, meatiness, and dark layered fruit ranging from blackberry, black cherry, to brighter strawberry, raspberry and violet notes. Dark chocolate, sandalwood and a slight earthiness add layers to the rich fruit. Nuances of smoke, toasted wood and baking spices linger in the finish."