Bon Vie

Jim Clendenen

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

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.
— 10 days ago

Jan, Paul and 5 others liked this
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

Love this!!!
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

RIP Jim. Can still taste the 1991 vintage. A formative CA pinot pioneer. Cheeky pinot title...

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay 2005

Stunningly complex, mesmerising and fantastic.
Full of tertiary notes: Figs, hazelnuts, stemmed ginger, dried lemon peel, honey. Loads of caramel, baking spices, vanilla and tonka beans. Quite oxidative almost sherry like. Super bright acidity, wonderful balance and structure, a super lush and creamy finish.
— 3 months ago

Château Le Bon Pasteur

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Black with scant signs of bricking. Nose of forest after rain, ripe black cherry, black and blueberries, cedar, black pepper and violets. Full bodied, rich mouthfeel, with blackberry foremost, madura wrap, pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, black cherry, walnut, currant, and blackened yam. This is a holiday in a bottle, at a perfect spot age wise, ridiculously resonant with a deep finish and long persistence. Open this one with family and friends and appropriate feast!


#chateaulebonpasteur #lebonpasteur #michelrolland #pomerol #2009 #grandvindebordeaux #bordeaux #rightbank #misenbouteilleauchateau #appellationpomerolcontrôlée
— 4 months ago

Tom, Severn and 4 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

La Bauge Au-Dessus Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2019

Quite light ruby , with a wide ruby garnet rim. Quite sweet red fruit at first with some raspberry , strawberry and red cherry notes , dried flowers as well , rose , violet and an earthy note . Quite elegant and precise . On the palate this is again elegant and restrained , very pretty red fruits , juicy but still fresh acidity . Light tannins balanced alcohol . Cherry , raspberry and wild strawberry . Herbal tinged , slightly earthy finish . Drinking very well now and will continue to do so over the next 3-5 years or so — 2 months ago

Bob, Scott@Mister and 5 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

Hildegard Estate Bottled Santa Maria Valley White Blend 2018

Lemon, grapefruit, spices, cream. Oaky but well balanced with electric acidity. — 3 months ago

Tom liked this

Domaine de la Tour du Bon

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2021

Ready to drink already. Soft fruit and a well integrated structure. — 2 months ago

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2014

2014 drunk in 2024. I kept a bottle of this $14(!!) wine—2015 price—for 8 years on a hunch that it would hold up, and it did. I don’t know what it costs now, but back then it was head and shoulders the best American supermarket wine. — 3 months ago

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2022

Wow this is a great example of Santa Barbara Chardonnay. Some wood in the nose next to moderate tones of tropical fruit. In the mouth it has a slight salty tone. Paired beautifully with 60 months old Parmezan cheese. — 4 months ago

Peter, Shay and 4 others liked this

Domaine de la Tour du Bon

Bandol Grenache Blend Rosé 2023

Some white peach, almond, subtle plum skin. If you don’t see the color, it drinks surprisingly close to a southern Italian white like Greco di tufo — 6 months ago