2019 Au Bon Climat, Bien Nacido Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or. Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

Located in Santa Barbara County, California, Santa Maria Valley is renowned for its exceptional wines and unique terroir. Its cool climate, influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean, makes it ideal for growing premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Winemakers embrace minimal intervention and sustainable practices, allowing the true essence of the grapes and terroir to shine through in the wines.

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.