2020 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

The 2020 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is a beautifully composed, single-vineyard Pinot from one of California’s most revered cool-climate sites. Sourced from the oldest plantings of this legendary vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, it captures a striking balance of perfume, structure, and finesse that will appeal to Burgundy lovers and California Pinot enthusiasts alike. With multiple high scores, including 95+ points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, this cuvée underscores Au Bon Climat’s reputation for world‑class, terroir-driven wines.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Pinot Noir shows a vibrant, translucent ruby to garnet hue, hinting at both its concentration and elegance. The nose is lifted and complex, with perfumed red and black cherries at the core, layered with notes of star anise, dried rose petals, subtle forest floor, and a gentle mineral edge. Nuances of baking spice and fine French oak sit in the background, adding depth without overwhelming the fruit. On the palate, the wine is silk-textured yet expansive, coating the mouth with nuanced, spicy berry flavors. Juicy red cherry, wild strawberry, and black raspberry are framed by lively, well-integrated acidity that keeps the wine precise and energetic. The inclusion of whole clusters brings a fine, savory spice and a subtle stemmy complexity, while the 22 months in quality French oak add polish, structure, and a long, persistent finish. Tannins are supple but present, suggesting excellent aging potential; this wine will reward cellaring for 8–12 years from vintage, developing more tertiary notes of truffle, dried herbs, and underbrush over time.

Production
Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, planted in 1971, is one of the great historic Pinot Noir sites of the Sta. Rita Hills, a very cool subregion of California’s Central Coast. Influenced by cold Pacific breezes and fog funneled through the transverse coastal valleys, the vineyard produces fruit with intense flavor, fresh acidity, and a distinctly mineral character. For this wine, Pinot Noir was meticulously hand-harvested in the early morning while the grapes were still cool, preserving aromatic freshness and allowing for an extended cold soak before fermentation. This cold maceration enhances fruit-driven aromas and color while gently extracting fine tannins. About 50% of the fruit was fermented as whole clusters, amplifying aromatic complexity, structure, and spice. Fermentation proceeded slowly and at controlled temperatures, encouraging gradual extraction as the alcohol level rose. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for approximately 22 months in new French oak barrels from François Frères, then bottled unfiltered to preserve texture and detail, followed by further bottle aging before release.

Food & Serving
This refined but expressive Pinot Noir is a versatile partner at the table. It pairs beautifully with roasted duck breast, herb-crusted lamb, wild mushroom risotto, or game birds such as quail or squab. Earthy dishes—truffle pasta, grilled salmon with lentils, or roasted root vegetables—also complement its savory, spicy nuances. Serve at 14–16°C (57–61°F) to highlight its aromatic precision and silken texture. Decanting for 30–60 minutes in its youth can help the wine open up, releasing more floral and spice notes; older bottles should be decanted gently just before serving to separate any sediment without overexposing the wine to air.

Producer
Au Bon Climat, founded in 1982 by the late Jim Clendenen in Santa Barbara County, has long been a benchmark for Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in California. Working closely with sites like Bien Nacido and Sanford & Benedict, Clendenen became internationally renowned for his sensitive approach to winemaking and his deep commitment to expressing terroir. His research and historical interest in pre-Chardonnay white Burgundy, as well as his championing of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Central Coast, helped redefine the region and elevate its global reputation. Au Bon Climat’s wines are known for their elegance, balance, and ageworthiness, and the Sanford & Benedict bottling stands as a flagship expression of cool-climate Californian Pinot Noir at the very highest level.

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