Jim Clendenen
Estate Bottled Au Bon Climat La Bauge Au-dessus Pinot Noir
Santa Maria Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
Still going strong 14 yrs on. A bit too much cola for my taste, but quite tasty.
Still going strong 14 yrs on. A bit too much cola for my taste, but quite tasty.
Oct 24th, 2014Pretty balance - aromatically, in the mid palate, & through to the finish. Perfect for summer. 13.5% alc/vol
Pretty balance - aromatically, in the mid palate, & through to the finish. Perfect for summer. 13.5% alc/vol
May 22nd, 2018
This isn’t your average Pinot Noir. No, this is the kind of wine that slinks into the room with quiet confidence, drops a sharp one-liner, and makes you question everything you thought you knew about wine. Unpretentious but impeccably crafted, with just the right amount of attitude. On the palate, the fruit—cherries, raspberries, and plums—is vibrant, alive, like it’s been plucked at the peak of its existence. But then comes the earth: a bit of cedar, a dash of spice, and that elusive minerality that makes you wonder if you’re drinking wine or walking through a misty vineyard at dawn.
The acidity? Razor-sharp but not overwhelming. It’s like the sarcastic friend who keeps you grounded. The tannins are there, smooth and silky.
And the finish? Long. Real long. Like the kind of story you hope never ends, full of fruit, spice, and a faint echo of oak.
This isn’t your average Pinot Noir. No, this is the kind of wine that slinks into the room with quiet confidence, drops a sharp one-liner, and makes you question everything you thought you knew about wine. Unpretentious but impeccably crafted, with just the right amount of attitude. On the palate, the fruit—cherries, raspberries, and plums—is vibrant, alive, like it’s been plucked at the peak of its existence. But then comes the earth: a bit of cedar, a dash of spice, and that elusive minerality that makes you wonder if you’re drinking wine or walking through a misty vineyard at dawn.
The acidity? Razor-sharp but not overwhelming. It’s like the sarcastic friend who keeps you grounded. The tannins are there, smooth and silky.
And the finish? Long. Real long. Like the kind of story you hope never ends, full of fruit, spice, and a faint echo of oak.
“The party upstairs” - somebody at ABC is down to party, but I don’t love this one, lil pruney.
“The party upstairs” - somebody at ABC is down to party, but I don’t love this one, lil pruney.
Jul 5th, 2024
Good as ABC always is. Really punchy and rich when we first opened it but mellowed out fast. Will stick to the workaday variety.
Good as ABC always is. Really punchy and rich when we first opened it but mellowed out fast. Will stick to the workaday variety.
Mar 6th, 2022
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.
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.
Feb 4th, 2022
i would never guess this was a central coast wine. reduced earthy cherry cola pinot that reminds of Dujac. cheers Jim, enjoy the view from above.
i would never guess this was a central coast wine. reduced earthy cherry cola pinot that reminds of Dujac. cheers Jim, enjoy the view from above.
May 23rd, 2021