Au Bon Climat, Talley Vineyard Rincon Pinot Noir, Arroyo Grande Valley

Pronounced aromatics of dried herbs (lavender, sage, *especially* sandalwood), red plums, roasted coffee. The palate is more subdued, with med-low acidity and finish with moderate persistence, nice today and fully mature. ABC library release from K&L, Fall 2024.

2005 vintage

Needed a little while to open, but once it did -- wow. I second the other taster's notes about this being a darker Burgundy. Let's say Meo Camuzet lol. Blueberry, fresh thyme, violet figs, creamy, bolets. My first of the mixed case of ABC ex-cellar bottles and holy s*** what a start.

2005 vintage

Drinking spectacularly now. Rich, long. Tannins and oak are now very well integrated (addressing earlier reviews). Dark fruits with a touch of undergrowth on the nose, red fruits but warm and long on the palate. Still has legs but it is perfect right now.

2007 vintage

Very impressed with my last bottle of 12. Still very good. Clearly Pinot Noir, done with a light touch. Can't say enough good things about the wines I've enjoyed from this producer.

2007 vintage

Another bottle of this modestly priced pinot noir. Carries me back to the time when pinot noir didn't shout. Still very fresh, with great balance of fruit, acidity, and tannin. A pleasure to drink. Elegant, almost sophisticated. Nearly every time I taste wine from this producer, I can't help but wonder why the wines aren't more widely acclaimed. On the other hand, I do appreciate that an excellent bottle of wine can be had for less than a mortgage payment.

2007 vintage

Excellent blueberry and ripe wild cherry notes, slightly stewed with age, but with a distinct savory note; rich but not overripe, excellent balance, a little bit soft and almost a creamy mouthfeel but not quite; 14% alc. Tasted blind many thought a very ripe Burgundy. Doing amazingly well at this stage. Drink up, but will hold a few more years.

2005 vintage

Still good after all these years. Fruit intensity has been edged out by the nuances of age, but the wine is still seductively silky, very balanced and enjoyable to drink--alcohol and tannin play supporting roles without being intrusive.

2007 vintage

Very oaky, there seems to a good wine underneath, but hard to get past the oak at the moment.

2007 vintage

Cork still very tight and barely stained at the bottom. Lovely transparency to the ruby color. Excellent aroma. Complex flavors. Not a wine meant to clobber the drinker. Delivers a lot of value and still going strong.

2007 vintage

Decanted for 60 minutes-full bodied and delicious- no complaints especially at this price point.

2007 vintage

Un Pinot noir à la robe intense des climats ensoleillés, exubérant au nez, plus puissant que nature pour un français ! La cerise kirschée est accompagnée par le poivre et bien calée dans sa charpente. La sensation d'alcool est un peu trop présente pour moi mais il faut le regoûter après aération pour se faire une idée plus juste.

2007 vintage

Continuing to follow this one. Tasted blind, clearly Pinot Noir. Considerable berry fruit impressions still remain, but has picked up dimension and a tiny bit of gravitas. Glad to have more in the cellar.

2007 vintage

Nose is very light. Young wine easy to drink over dinner. Little bit of spice with oaks

2007 vintage

Light and creamy, with straight forward strawberry, raspberry and red cherry flavors, nice creaminess and very smooth.

2007 vintage

Nose: Dark fruit, rather luxurious nose. Notes of rose, asian spices and a savoury element as well Taste: Rather rich and primary at the moment. Nice dose of fruit and rather well balanced.

2007 vintage

Trip to Solvang and Los Olivos (Los Olivos, CA and Solvang, CA) : Tasted non-blind at Tastes of the Valleys in Solvang, CA. Big nose of cherries, spices, cassis. Nice effort on the palate with more red and dark fruits but possibly a little too sweet. Hold for 1-2 more years.

2007 vintage

Beautiful nose of blackberry, cherry and earth. The palate is fairly soft and easy going but very pleasant and typical ABC style. Not overdone but has old world character.

2007 vintage

Danny's Solvang Trip; 9/24/2010-9/29/2010 (Slovang) : N: Strong oak P: Cherry and oak F: very smooth tannins, not much structure. Medium finish

2007 vintage

vivid red, nice clarity. light& fragrant, sweet cherries, raspberry, strawberry .hint of oak - very balanced and more-ish. i like.

2007 vintage

Anita: w/bbq burgers; 1st a closed nose, then cherry, then rasp., then strawberry notes, slight thistle notes, mth is sort of hard edged, somewhat lean, and tart acidity; somewhat hot too (14%). For 2005 still seems very young and vibrant. maybe re-check in 2 years...

2005 vintage

The colour is actually quite pale. Tasted over two nights: On the nose raspberries, strawberries and butter. On the palate the wine has a lovely freshness. Butter and cream combine with strawberry and cherries. There seems to be the slightest hint of bitterness. By the second night the nose had opened up nicely, even a slight hint of cedar coming thru. Good length, not as concentrated as the ABC “La Bauge” 2006 I had last year, nevertheless a lovely wine, …

2007 vintage

Again, very impressive

2007 vintage

Checking in on this again, we remain very impressed with this bottling and hope it continues to gain additional complexity. Has shed some of the sweetness of the first bottle, and offers very nicely integrated elements. . .nothing obtrudes. Held up very nicely for the second night. A wine for drinking. YEAH!

2007 vintage

Fairly pale, garnet colour. Cherries and raspberries on nose and in mouth. Well structured with no obtrusive oak. Went perfectly with roast chicken

2007 vintage

Wonderful initial aroma, like California Pinot Noir smelled once upon a time. Clear light color. Still very primary fruit, not excessive extract, pleasingly low alcohol level, a little hot on opening but resolved with air time. Oak unobtrusive, tannins definitely there, but structural rather than dominating. Very enjoyable glass of wine. Looking forward to this one's development over the next months and years.

2007 vintage

Fresh, red fruit spring out of the glass, very ripe and perfectly balanced, with a nice length finish. Good oak integration and perfect for summers day drinking. Very moresish and a crowd pleaser.

2007 vintage

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Au Bon Climat, Talley Vineyard Rincon Pinot Noir, Arroyo Grande Valley

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