Tasting Notes
I drank Pinot Noir 'Isabelle' 2020, by Au Bon Climat, a few weeks ago, which has been one of my favourites in the past, and it was better than any I can remember. I just had another glass, as I used a coravin system, and it is as good as it was. A super wonderful wine. It is exceptionally well priced for a wine of such quality. It's restrained but so beautiful and giving of itself now. As in, this is not a big, fruity, West Coast Pinot. It is very much in the Burgundy style. It gets 94 points in the Galloni July review in Vinous. Drink 2023 - 2030.
More Info
It took just one month spent in Burgundy for Jim to abandon a future in law, and that swayed him to pursue a career in wine. Deeply influenced by his love of Burgundy, Clendenen set up ABC with Adam Tolmach in 1982 with the ambition to make wines that spoke of their place, which emulate the restraint and finesse of Europe but with a magic touch of New World flair. The vineyards ABC source their grapes from reads as a ‘who’s who’ of Central Coast vineyards with Bien Nacido and Jim’s own “Le Bon Climat” as the biggest contributors. He passed away in 2021 and is remembered as one of the most charismatic and influential people of his vinous generation.