Clendenen Family Vineyards

Clendenen Family Vineyards

Bien Nacido Estate Plantings Rosé Mondeuse 2022

A Rose of Mondrian grapes with a restrained, dry character and some structure to it. — 3 months ago

Gillian Koh
with Gillian
Daniel and Doug liked this

Clendenen Family Vineyards

"Bricco Buon Natale" Nebbiolo 2018

Interesting. Dried herbs, leather, plums, cranberry, strawberry, almost fruit salad with red apples. I guess it is more juicy with less tannin than I expected for such a young wine. It’s great with the Italian sausage and bean stew for dinner. I was hoping for a bit more. — 7 months ago

Josh liked this

Jim Clendenen

Estate Bottled Au Bon Climat La Bauge Au-dessus Pinot Noir 2015

The first day of opening this wine it was harsh and stuffy. I was not impressed. However, on the second day, this wine opened up and became very light and flavorful - a juicy Pinot Noir of jammy cherry and berries. — 2 years ago

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2019

RIP Jim Clendenen! Really nice White blend. — 2 years ago

Tom, Martin and 13 others liked this
David L

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Indeed

Clendenen Family Vineyards

Rancho La Cuna Syrah Viognier 2017

Big, blackberry jam and peppery. Holds and holds. — 3 months ago

Gillian Koh
with Gillian
Daniel and Doug liked this

Clendenen Family Vineyards

Punta Exclamitiva Santa Maria Valley Nebbiolo 2014

Unbelievable after two hours of air. It is so much dark fruit with a bunch of herbs, lavender, thyme, some leather, but also floral notes. Just insanely well balanced with great nose and palate. Perfect with pasta dinner. Waaaaay better than the other two lower end Nebbiolo they sell at the tasting room. Don’t even bother with those. This is a whole other league. — 6 months ago

Eric and Raul liked this

Au Bon Climat

La Bauge Au-Dessus Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2008

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! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
— 2 years ago

Deborah, Martin and 21 others liked this
Jody Scharf

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A fave!
Daniel P. Drake

Daniel P. Drake Influencer Badge

@Jody Scharf definitely a favorite of mine too.

Clendenen Family Vineyards

Le Bon Climat Aligoté 2019

Tangerine, white cherry, crushed stone, a bit sour. Interesting. — 3 months ago

Eric and Eddie liked this
Eric Urbani

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@John Willison RIP Jim … so many great wines
John Willison

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@Eric Urbani Indeed. Came across this in a bottle shop and bought the 3 bottles they had without thinking. Cali Aligote…well made.

Au Bon Climat

Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Santa Maria Valley Estate Bottled Chardonnay 2015

N: Lemons, ginger, banana peel, very fresh, like a just passed thunderstorms sun. You can smell the oak, but it’s like a ghost in the background.
P:Lemon custard, ever so light, creamy,tart, long finish, slight wood. He was really talented.
R.I.P. Jim Clendenen
If served this “ blind”, very few would peg it as a Cali Chard. A stylistic response to criticism of previous, over the top Chards.
With time and air, some flinty mineral goodness appears along with the sensation of citrus pith.
— 2 years ago

Eddie, Lyle and 8 others liked this