This is close to perfection
Fairly big body not huge, but driven by an agility, suppleness, drinkability tremendously out of the ordinary
I have had other vintages and I must admit 2012 is arguably the best or close second to the 98.
Statement :I love Clare Valley shiraz, it is surely the most Rhone like 100% shiraz, for the big bold body u need to add malbec or mataro. Almost flawless
Silky tannin and long — 6 years ago
Wow, acid is here and that's for sure. Utterly refreshing, peppery lime nose. Grapefruit, gave, bitter lime but all very balanced. I could drink a bucket. — 6 years ago
The acidity is like a punch in the face - in a good way! Very dry with a bit of sunny currant. — 7 years ago
Another above-the-fold headline scoop from "Superman's Pal"! This is a dense, jammy blend with slimy smooth body. The rich dark cherry, red raspberry, and black currant flavors balance nicely. It works well as an after-dinner digestive wine. — 8 years ago
Uniqueness describes this wine perfectly. Almost completely clear with a intense glimmer, the nose fills with super ripe sour cherries and creamy raspberries. The palate is filled with strawberry vanilla cream, nectarines, and sweet dried cherries. It keeps the Barbara characteristics, but shows sweetness and a vibrant sense of rebirth. Spring is here, and this gives you a great transition from winter to spring. I could see this pairing with spicy food perfectly. Only on a Tuesday! #nakedwines — 8 years ago
Last night I opened the 2017 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County, California. It has been a little bit since I have had an Au Bon Climat from Jim Clendenen. Jim's work is always spot on and well worth what you pay.
On the nose there is cranberry, strawberry, cherry, anise, clove, spice and a nice earthiness.
On the palate there is cranberry, strawberry, cherry, caramel, herbal notes, red currant, light oak and that nice earthiness.
This wine is light to medium bodied with medium to medium + acidity and medium fine tannins that lead into a medium to medium long fresh fruit finish. Continued health to everyone. Please be safe and continue social distancing. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 5 years ago
#Nebbiolo is a surprisingly rare grape. Even in its native Piedmont, it accounts for only 8% of vineyard land. There are fewer than 100 hectares planted in the United States. 🕵️♂️🍇
Over 80% of prewar Italian immigrants came from Sicily and Southern Italy. Piedmont was the wealthiest and most politically dominant region. But if fortunes were reversed, could Nebbiolo have taken Primitivo/Zinfandel’s place as a grape relatively uncommon on the boot but dominant in California? 🤔🇮🇹🇺🇸
Probably not. The Nebbiolo vine is *not* for beginners. It flowers early and ripens late, making it susceptible to both spring and autumn frosts. It loves the occasional fog bath (some say the name is derived from ‘nebbia’, Italian for fog ☁️☁️☁️) but is prone to the mildew that may result from such humid conditions. Its fussiness would make Pinot Noir blush: it demands southwesterly exposure, a proper gradient, constant sun above, and fog licking at its toes. #diva
Sound anything like California’s Central Coast? 🌅
In the Santa Maria Valley, where the East-West Transverse Range bends back into the North-South Coastal Range, it’s possible. Vineyard selection still requires extreme discretion - an eye like @JimClendenen’s, perhaps.
Jim began the Nebbiolo program at the legendary #BienNacido vineyard in 1994. Production is small, but if you track down his “The Pip” Nebbiolo, it will only run you about $30. You’ll believe anything is possible when you have real California Nebbiolo of this quality come wafting out of the glass at you! 🙌🙌
🏞.“The Pip” is named after Jim’s old cellar dog Pip, a border collie. So it only seemed right to include one of our own pips! 🐈 — 6 years ago
Jim Clendenen & Emeril Lagasse dinner through the Triangle Wine Experience — 7 years ago
Much smoother and heavier than expected. Highly recommend! — 7 years ago
Tasted at TW wine tasting. Delicious. Smooth Nicely blended and aged.
Good accompanying beef dill cutlets and cucumber arugula dill salad. — 7 years ago
Big and spicy. Tastes it’s age, but has a lot of depth. — 7 years ago
Great acidity , oak is there but in the background . Fruit is still the main focus . Very well made — 8 years ago
Paul T HB
Nice Wednesday keto bottle, with some pesto topped barramundi
K&L notes,
This Champagne is composed of juice from all old vine Grand Cru grapes on property that used to belong to Krug right in the Cotes de Blanc… so you know they’re working with great land and great fruit. The nose is earthy, almost a little sandy toned, but there’s also good fresh fruit here with scents of citrus peel and Golden Delicious apples. The mouthfeel is soft and supple with a great apple/pear balance that becomes more intense in fruitiness and even borders on tropical flavors before coming to a gradual vanilla finish. — 4 years ago