Daniel P. Drake

9.0

My Sunday night wine I have gone back to a favorite of mine that is not going to break the bank and is consistently good. I have opened the Jim Clendenon 2018 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County.

On the nose there is raspberry, cranberry, cherry, spice vanilla anise, clove and earthiness.

On the palate I detect good red fruit, raspberry, cherry, cranberry, red currant, anise, clove and earthiness.

The wine is medium bodied with medium + acidity and medium fine tannins that leads into a long fresh red fruit finish. Another well blended wine from Jim Clendenon that i have come to expect. I hope everyone's weekend was a good one and we are all still safe and healthy. Have a great week, Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

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! 🐈 — 6 years ago

Phil Castellano

9.4

Love the intensity of this stuff! Too bad this is a gift for my departing colleague.... — 7 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 — 8 years ago

with Dana

Rob Brobst III

9.8

Holy tall green giants Batman! This is the real reason I drink wine. @Bill Bender @Warren Sapp @Neal Schaffer @Vanessa D @Eric Shanks @Jim Trobaugh @David L @Eric LaMasters @Paul T @Jade Moore @Doug Davidson @Ron R @Connor McMahon @TheSkip — 8 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

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

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. — 6 years ago

Carrie Bowden

9.3

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

Rob B

9.1

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

David L

9.3

13’ Au Bon Climat Nuits- Blanches Au Bouge (On That Road Again) Chardonnay.
Decant this for 30 minutes. Honestly I’ve really never had a Chardonnay quite like this one.

Baked apple, lemon, lime, white flowers,definite oak treatment. It all seems to work. Truly an enjoyable wine. Jim has been making outstanding wines for 35+ years. Reasonably priced and delicious. Could possibly get even better with another year in bottle.
— 7 years ago

Greg Dorchak

8.9

Very oaky and smoky — 8 years ago

Kelley Panaro

9.5

Very good. Delicious fruity finish — 8 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!! — 5 years ago

with Jim

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.7

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

Chris Haywood

9.3

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

Scott Rowe

9.2

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

Fauxakim

8.9

The acidity is like a punch in the face - in a good way! Very dry with a bit of sunny currant. — 7 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. — 8 years ago

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. — 8 years ago