On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, we had the opportunity to meet and interview Knox Alexander Clendenen. Knox is the co-owner, with his sister Isabelle, of the Au Bon Climat Winery. Knox and Isabelle and the strong team behind the winery took over after the passing of their father, and winery founder, Jim Clendenen. During the interview with Knox, we covered seven new-release Au Bon Climat (ABC) wines and one Clendenen Family wine. I have also been able to cover two additional ABC wines since the interview. I have included them in the blog post linked below. Check out what we learned about Knox.
Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Knox shared in the interview.
- A little bit about Jim. He started studying pre-law and fell in love with wine while studying abroad his junior year in France.
- While traveling abroad for a month in Burgundy and Champagne and living above a wine shop in Paris he decided to attempt a career in wine rather than continue onto law school.
- Jim started his career working with Bob Linquist at Zaca Mesa in 1978.
- In 1982, Jim started Au Bon Climat in a converted dairy barn with Adam Tolmach at the Los Alamos Vineyard.
- In 1990, Adam left to start Ojai Winery and Clendenen became Au Bon Climat’s sole proprietor.
- Jim started Clendenen Family Vineyards as a legacy winery for his children. The label was Jim’s passion project. It continues today to represent out-of-the-ordinary varietals and styles made in small lot wines from great vineyards.
- Jim unexpectedly passed away in 2021. Knox and Isabelle have since taken over as co-owners.
- Most of the team has been with Au Bon Climat for 20 years.
- Jim had built a dream team, headed by winemaker Jim Adelman. Having this dream team in place has allowed for a seamless transition. Jim had taught Adelman his style of winemaking. Adelman has been with the winery for over 30 years. He has been the day-to-day winemaker and overseer of all aspects of wine production at the winery since the early ”˜90s.
- The winery produces about 65,000 cases per year. From the beginning, they have always done hand punch downs. It’s a lot of work.
- Knox is now working with the winemaking team. He is also convinced there is no sane winemaker!
- Isabelle studied journalism and according to Knox is way better than him at sales and presentations.
- The Hildegard wine is a salute to the history of Burgundy and to Hildegard's husband the King of the Franks, Charlemagne. During Charlemagne's rule in the early 800s the importance of wine and viticulture exploded.
- The Bien Nacido Vineyard was first planted in 1973. It is the primary vineyard source for Au Bon Climat wines.
- The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard was the first “great” vineyard in Santa Barbara County. It was planted by Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict in 1971, first with Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, then later with Pinot Noir vines from Karl Wente.
- La Bauge Au-dessus translates as a “wild party upstairs.” That alone is a great name for a wine. However, Knox shares it also had a double meaning. Something to do with a brothel!
- The “Isabelle” wine is a top-end Pinot Noir wine made from the best grapes from California. After the birth of his daughter, Jim wanted to make a special wine in her honor. Every year since, they select the finest Pinot barrels from many different vineyards locally and afar. In 2021 the grapes came from Bien Nacido (Santa Maria Valley), Rancho La Cuna & Los Alamos Vineyard (Los Alamos Valley – Santa Barbara County), Sanford & Benedict (Santa Rita Hills), & Lala Panzi (Russian River Valley)
- The ‘Knox Alexander” represents the finest lots of Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley appellation; in this case Bien Nacido Vineyard where the winery is located and the Runway Vineyard, our next door neighbor. Though
- The “Knox Alexander” represents the finest lots of Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley appellation; in this case Bien Nacido Vineyard where the winery is located and the Runway Vineyard, our next door neighbor.
- Finally, an interesting tidbit we learned. One benefit of using whole clusters is when done well, using whole clusters can amplify perfume, increase structural complexity, and lower the alcohol in the finished wine (The stems absorb some of the ethanol)
Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Au Bon Climat that we covered with Knox. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wine lists. You can also purchase these wines directly from their website.
1) Au Bon Climat 2021 White Blend “Hildegard” (Santa Maria Valley) $40 (KWGTP 93)
2) Au Bon Climat 2022 Chardonnay “Bien Nacido Vineyard” (Santa Maria Valley) $40 (KWGTP 92)
3) Au Bon Climat 2021 Chardonnay “Sanford & Benedict Vineyard” (Santa Ynez Valley) $40 (KWGTP 92)
4) Au Bon Climat 2021 Pinot Noir “La Bauge Au-dessus” (Santa Maria Valley) $35 (KWGTP 92)
5) Au Bon Climat 2021 Pinot Noir “Sanford & Benedict Vineyard” (Santa Ynez Valley) $50 (KWGTP 93)
6) Au Bon Climat 2021 Pinot Noir “Isabelle” (California) $65 (KWGTP 94.5)
7) Au Bon Climat 2021 Pinot Noir “Knox Alexander” (Santa Maria Valley) $65 (KWGTP 93.5)
8) Clendenen Family 2021 90% Syrah/10% Viognier (Santa Barbara County) $35 (KWGTP 92)
Wines Covered In Other Tastings, Post Interview
9) Au Bon Climat 2021 Chardonnay “Nuits Blanches au Bouge” (Santa Maria Valley) $50 (KWGTP 95)
10) Au Bon Climat 2022 “80% Pinot Gris & 20% Pinot Blanc” (Santa Barbara County) $22 (KWGTP 92)
You can find reviews of past and future wines of the Au Bon Climat portfolio that we cover on their KWG winery page on our website.
We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! — Ken