Beau Marchais is now Adam Lee Wine.

CLARICE, MY DAD, AND SOME DAMN GOOD PINOT

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Clarice was my grandmother—born in 1896 in Giddings, Texas—and she was my best friend growing up. My dad, Howard Lee, was born on July 11, 1921. I still smile thinking about him making my grandfather the butt of a gentle joke, just to make Clarice laugh (picture below).

When I started Clarice Wine Company, I named it for her. The goal? Make serious, age worthy Pinot Noir—especially from a place I love: the Santa Lucia Highlands. The region had plenty of flashy Pinots, but I’ve worked with these vines since their first fruit 25 years ago, and I believed it could offer more. Through deep roots, thoughtful farming, and a lot of whole cluster fermentation—I’m doing my best to prove that this region rivals the best Pinot growing regions in the world.

Apparently, people agree. Lisa Perrotti-Brown recently called me “one of Northern California’s greatest crafters of Pinot Noir,” and John Gilman named me one of his favorite American Pinot producers.

But just because the wines are serious doesn’t mean I have to be. So, in honor of my dad’s birthday—and Clarice’s memory—I’m offering something for Wine Berserkers that brings both soul and fun.

THE CLARICE BERSERKER PACK

  • 2 bottles 2023 Clarice Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

96 POINTS – VINOUS – “…the 2023 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is a stone-cold stunner. A rush of blue/purple fruit, deep, layered exotic spice tones and calibrated cooling acidity join together in a wine of supreme finesse. A slight decrease in the whole cluster usage in this even, long-hanging vintage worked so well. I can’t wait to taste this from bottle.”

96 POINTS – JEBDUNNUCK.COM – “ the 2023 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands is mostly sourced from the Garys’ Vineyard, with roughly a quarter from the Rosella’s Vineyard. It’s fantastic at this early stage, offering spicy aromas of ripe black raspberries, violets, and wet stones that continues to the palate with a crunchy youthfulness. It’s going to take its time loosening its grip, as it has good tension all the way through, but this is going to be a vibrant vintage for this wine….”

  • 2 bottles 2023 Clarice Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 

98 POINTS – TASTING PANEL MAGAZINE – Winemaker Adam Lee has created a wine that exhibits a well-developed and cared-for garden of jasmine and roses. It’s sleek, exciting intense, and exotic, with cherry blossom, maple, and sweet tobacco. A pinch of white pepper awakens hibiscus and tangerine on the memorable finish.”

96 POINTS – JEBDUNNUCK.COM – “A fantastic floral perfume lifts from the 2023 Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard, comes from a site closer to the coast and sees some whole cluster on the Pommard clone in the blend. It’s both floral and spicy, with high-toned floral note that comes through along with notes of pomegranate. There’s linear acidity driving the wine forward with a fantastic tension at this young stage, and I love the electricity that comes through in this sample.”

95 POINTS – VINOUS – “…the 2023 Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard is a deeply spiced, floral, mineral-driven red. Tight and tannic, the 2023 is a sleeping giant right now, expressive as all get out on the nose but wound up like a ball of rubber bands in the mouth. Time, time, time.”

PLUS: I’ll randomly select one buyer to receive one FREE year Clarice membership, including a mixed 6-pack of the upcoming 2024 Clarice Pinots.

Serious Pinot. Some fun. A little Texas heart. Hope you enjoy.

—Adam Lee
Clarice Wine Company