Jim Ball Vineyards

Thienot

Black Ball Champagne Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 2007

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

Paul, TwiLea and 30 others liked this
Jen

Jen

Your descriptions are great!
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

I cannot take the credit, that’s the tasting notes from K&L wines
Buddy G

Buddy G

Don't give away your secrets @Paul T- Huntington Beach

Jim Barry

The Armagh Clare Valley Shiraz 2012

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

Keith, Daniel P. and 10 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I have 3 bottles of the 98 stashed away. I shud get after em!
Ceccherini Cristiano

Ceccherini Cristiano Influencer Badge

98s are sensational, I am jealous 😉

Jim Barry

Watervale Clare Valley Riesling 2017

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

Jim Barry

The Florita Clare Valley Riesling 2017

I’ve enjoyed the 09, 13 and now the 17.
This wine is an outstanding ambassador for Clare Valley Riesling.
— 7 years ago

Serge, Bob and 5 others liked this

Jim Barry

The Lodge Hill Clare Valley Dry Riesling 2017

The acidity is like a punch in the face - in a good way! Very dry with a bit of sunny currant. — 7 years ago

Jim Olsen

Field Blend 2016

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

Jonathan liked this

Jim Olsen

Barbera 2016

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

Dana Dungan
with Dana
Dana, Ron and 1 other liked this

Clendenen Family Vineyards

Le Bon Climat Aligoté 2019

I believe this is a relatively new project for Jim - great execution as always — 5 years ago

Eric, Keaton and 22 others liked this
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Need to try

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2017

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

Dawn, P and 27 others liked this

Clendenen Family Vineyards

The Pip Santa Maria Valley Nebbiolo 2014

#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

Au Bon Climat

La Bauge Au-Dessus Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2005

Rob B
9.0

Jim Clendenen & Emeril Lagasse dinner through the Triangle Wine Experience — 7 years ago

Shay liked this

3 Ball Wines

Paso Robles Zinfandel

Much smoother and heavier than expected. Highly recommend! — 7 years ago

Pearl Morissette Estate Winery

Cuvée Black Ball Riesling 2013

@Matt B this was a gift from you 😘😘 — 8 years ago

Laurel S
with Laurel
Laurel and Matt liked this

Cowan Cellars

Pinot Noir 2010

This is just so lovely, cool climate, deft touch of oak, layers of complexity, long finish, just a brilliant effort by Florida Jim, my only regret is I didn’t buy more!! — 5 years ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Severn liked this

Paloma

Napa Valley Merlot 1999

Dark fruits, sweet oak, still quite youthful and moderately tannic, medium-long finish, solid mountain Merlot, lovely wine made by my friends Jim and Barbara, RIP. — 6 years ago

Ira and Hermes liked this
Ira Schwartz

Ira Schwartz Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Doug Powers I was amazed how well some of the vintages aged, one of the first mailing lists I enrolled in. Never Met them but always wonderful when we spoke on the phone .
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@ira schwartz, Jim and Barbara Richards were some of the VERY nicest folks I’ve met in the wine industry!!!

Jim Barry

Clare Valley Assyrtiko 2018

Interesting to find Assyrtiko grape grown in Clare Valley. Bright acidity paired perfectly with local rock oysters with lemon pepper granita at Bennelong in Sydney Opera house. So refreshing on a sunny day. — 6 years ago

Martijn and Joe liked this

Tait Wines

The Ball Buster Barossa Valley Old Vines Shiraz Blend 2015

M F
8.9

Tasted at TW wine tasting. Delicious. Smooth Nicely blended and aged.
Good accompanying beef dill cutlets and cucumber arugula dill salad.
— 7 years ago

Booker's (Jim Beam)

Malt

Love the intensity of this stuff! Too bad this is a gift for my departing colleague.... — 7 years ago

Jeffrey, Jim and 5 others liked this

Booker's (Jim Beam)

7 yrs 0 mos Batch No. C03-A-29 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Malt

Big and spicy. Tastes it’s age, but has a lot of depth. — 7 years ago

BK Wines

One Ball Single Vineyard Kenton Valley Chardonnay 2016

Scott C
9.0

Great acidity , oak is there but in the background . Fruit is still the main focus . Very well made — 8 years ago