Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir (75cl, 13.5%)

Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir is a Burgundian-styled California Pinot Noir at 13.5% ABV. Founded in 1982 by Jim Clendenen, the winery champions restrained, food-friendly wines. This bottling draws fruit from the Bien Nacido and Clendenen Family vineyards. It is fermented in barrel, whole-cluster pressed, and aged for about 12 months in François Frères French oak, roughly 10% new. Grapes are hand-picked at moderate sugar levels to preserve acidity. The nose shows spiced cranberry, strawberry, hibiscus, anise, earthiness and a tea-like floral note. The palate has pomegranate, raspberry, plum, dark cherry, baking spice, clove, red licorice, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. The finish is long, with black tea, loam, mocha and cooling anise.