Bob McDonald

9.2

Notes of Toffee Apple initially - a little reductive to begin with. Pale dirty crimson - transparent in parts - quite Burgundian in colour. A light to medium weight palate but Medium intensity. Like a good Village, verging on Premier Cru. Interesting and tasty but needing about 4 or 5 years more to develop complexity. Jim Chatto is regarded as one of Australia’s best winemakers having been in charge at Mt Pleasant in the Hunter Valley and now running his own show in Tasmania. — 2 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

I believe this is a relatively new project for Jim - great execution as always — 4 years ago

Jonathan Shoup

9.0

Dark, cherry and delicious! See you next time — 4 years ago

with Jennifer

Connor Smith

9.5

#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! 🐈 — 5 years ago

Paul Weil

8.9

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. — 7 years ago

Greg Dorchak

8.9

Very oaky and smoky — 7 years ago

Kelley Panaro

9.5

Very good. Delicious fruity finish — 7 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Last night I had opened the 2008 Au Bon Climat Santa Maria Valley La Bauge Au-Dessus Pinot Noir. I was thinking heavily about Jim Clendenen and thought this would be a nice homage to his work. RIP Jim.

On the nose there is good fruit still cherry, cranberry, raspberry, plum, spice, a muskiness, dried roses, light oak and wet soil.

On the palate even in it's age there is good fruit of cherry, cranberry, raspberry, cola, spice, minerality and forest floor.

This is medium bodied with a smooth velvety mouthfeel even though the experts have the maturity date as 2018 the acidity is still medium with medium minus fine nearly resolved tannins that still leads to a medium to medium + red fruit candied cherry underbrush finish. Have a continued wonderful weekend and please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago

Doug Powers

9.4

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!! — 4 years ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.5

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. — 5 years ago

Phil Castellano

9.4

Love the intensity of this stuff! Too bad this is a gift for my departing colleague.... — 6 years ago

Phillip Antley

9.2

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

Neal Schaffer

9.0

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 — 7 years ago

with Dana

Paul T HB

9.5

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. — 3 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

8.9

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! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Jaz

9.1

Sweet white burgundy style Chardonnay — 5 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.2

I’ve enjoyed the 09, 13 and now the 17.
This wine is an outstanding ambassador for Clare Valley Riesling. — 6 years ago

Hema Reddy

9.0

Much smoother and heavier than expected. Highly recommend! — 6 years ago

Jared

9.1

@Matt B this was a gift from you 😘😘 — 7 years ago

with Laurel

Justin Chiotti

8.9

Pretty good. Not too big (staying consistent with Jim Clendenson's Burgundy approach). I'm gunna have to remember this one. — 7 years ago