Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat

The late Jim Clendenen founded Au Bon Climat (ABC) in 1982. He became famous for making pioneering wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on California’s Central Coast. He passed away in 2021 and is remembered as one of the most charismatic and influential people of his vinous generation.

Jim’s passion for wine was born from a trip to Burgundy in the mid-1970s when he studied Law at UC Santa Barbara. During subsequent visits, his enthusiasm for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grew, and he became convinced that the Californian hills were capable of something special with these two noble varieties.

Au Bon Climat translates as “a well-exposed vineyard”, a name that suits the vineyards’ coastal position, with its benevolent Pacific fog and cooling breeze. Making the most of these conditions, ABC buy clones from Burgundy. This contributes to creating wines that emulate Europe’s restraint and finesse but with a magic touch of New World flair.

The vineyards ABC source their grapes from read as a ‘who’s who’ of Central Coast vineyards. Bien Nacido and Jim’s “Le Bon Climat” are the most significant contributors. The influence of the Pacific can be felt standing in the canyon of Bien Nacido, where the warm days and cool nights characterise this superb terroir. Le Bon Climat, in contrast, consists of mainly hilltop vineyards which were certified organic in 2003.

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Available for delivery or collection. Pricing includes duty and VAT.
Available in bond
2016 Au Bon Climat, Isabelle, Pinot Noir, California, USA
Red
2016
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2013 Au Bon Climat, Bien Nacido Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
White
2013
Drink, at peak
Medium Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2013 Au Bon Climat, Rincon, Talley Vineyard Pinot Noir, Arroyo Grande Valley, California, USA
Red
2013
Drink up
Full Bodied
Dry
14.0% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2015 Au Bon Climat, Isabelle, Pinot Noir, California, USA
Red
2015
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2013 Au Bon Climat, Knox Alexander, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Red
2013
Drink up
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2017 Au Bon Climat, Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir, Santa Ynez Valley, California, USA
Red
2017
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2016 Au Bon Climat, Nuits-Blanches au Bouge, Chardonnay, Santa MariaValley, California, USA
White
2016
Drink, at peak
Medium Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2014 Au Bon Climat, Bien Nacido Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Red
2014
Drink up
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2020 Au Bon Climat, Hildegard, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
White
2020
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2020 Au Bon Climat, Nuits-Blanches au Bouge, Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
White
2020
Drink, youthful
Medium Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2019 Au Bon Climat, Larmes de Grappe, Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA
Red
2019
Drink, youthful
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2020 Au Bon Climat, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Red
2020
Drink, at peak
Medium Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2017 Au Bon Climat, Knox Alexander, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Red
2017
Drink, youthful
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2017 Au Bon Climat, Isabelle, Pinot Noir, California, USA
Red
2017
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2017 Au Bon Climat, Nuits-Blanches au Bouge, Chardonnay, Santa MariaValley, California, USA
White
2017
Drink, at peak
Medium Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2015 Au Bon Climat, Knox Alexander, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Red
2015
Drink, youthful
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2016 Au Bon Climat, Knox Alexander, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Red
2016
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2019 Au Bon Climat, Knox Alexander, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Red
2019
Drink, youthful
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2016 Au Bon Climat, Runway Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
White
2016
Drink, at peak
Medium Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2018 Au Bon Climat, Isabelle, Pinot Noir, California, USA
Red
2018
Drink, youthful
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2018 Au Bon Climat, Knox Alexander, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Red
2018
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2019 Au Bon Climat, Isabelle, Pinot Noir, California, USA
Red
2019
Lay down
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more
Available in bond
2017 Au Bon Climat, Larmes de Grappe, Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA
Red
2017
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
Find out more