Au Bon Climat, Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2022
Product Information
Country USA
Region California
Grape Variety Pinot Noir
Vintage 2022
ABV 13.5%
Founded in 1982 by the late and legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen, Au Bon Climat Winery has become a cornerstone of California's Central Coast wine scene. Specializing in cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines with a Burgundian influence, Au Bon Climat (often affectionately called “ABC”) continues to set the standard for elegant, age-worthy wines from this region.
Jim Clendenen, remembered as one of the most charismatic and influential winemakers of his generation, discovered his passion for wine during a life-changing trip to Burgundy while studying law at UC Santa Barbara in the 1970s. Inspired by the refined elegance of French wines, Jim returned to California with a vision: to craft Burgundy-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the greats of Europe, yet reflect the unique terroir of the California Central Coast.
Translating to “a well-exposed vineyard,” the name Au Bon Climat perfectly describes the ideal growing conditions of the winery’s vineyard sites. Nestled in the coastal hills of Santa Barbara County, these vineyards benefit from cooling Pacific Ocean breezes and early morning fog, creating the perfect environment for producing balanced, nuanced California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines