2019 Au Bon Climat, La Bauge Au-dessus Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA
Critics reviews
The 2019 Pinot Noir La Bauge Au-Dessus is attractive, but it is almost shockingly firm for a wine that has been in bottle for a few years. The high percentage of stem inclusion might have something to do with that. Bright red-toned fruit, dried flowers, mint and orange peel give this nervy Pinot an attractive upper register. It will be interesting to see if this softens a bit.
Au Bon Climat remains a reference point for Santa Barbara, perhaps THE reference point given the global reach these wines now enjoy. The last time I saw too many changes here was when Jim Clendenen passed away in early 2021, although most of these wines were made while he was still alive.
The signatures are a fair amount of new oak for the Chardonnays, but often with prominent use of large and thick-staved 350L barrels and heavy use of whole clusters for the Pinots. The top selections often see extended time in wood. Of course, it all starts with sourcing at some of the very finest vineyards in Santa Barbara.
Jim Clendenen influenced pretty much all of today’s younger generation, and that influence remains. Readers will find several compelling wines in this year’s crop of new releases.
Drink 2024 - 2031
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (July 2023)
‘Estate bottled’ is emblazoned on the front label. Fairly subtle aroma of violets and a very dry finish. Serious wine that is still in its infancy.
Drink 2021 - 2030
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (March 2020)
Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the translucent ruby-hued 2019 Pinot Noir La Bauge Au-dessus offers good complexity in its mulled cherries, mulberry, sagebrush, and minty herb-like aromas and flavours. It's medium-bodied, nicely balanced, elegant, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (August 2023)
About this WINE
Au Bon Climat
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.
Jim’s passion for wine was born from a trip to Burgundy in the mid-1970s when he studied Law at UC Santa Barbara. During subsequent visits, his enthusiasm for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grew, and he became convinced that the Californian hills were capable of something special with these two noble varieties.
Au Bon Climat translates as “a well-exposed vineyard”, a name that suits the vineyards’ coastal position, with its benevolent Pacific fog and cooling breeze. Making the most of these conditions, ABC buy clones from Burgundy. This contributes to creating wines that emulate Europe’s restraint and finesse but with a magic touch of New World flair.
The vineyards ABC source their grapes from read as a ‘who’s who’ of Central Coast vineyards. Bien Nacido and Jim’s “Le Bon Climat” are the most significant contributors. The influence of the Pacific can be felt standing in the canyon of Bien Nacido, where the warm days and cool nights characterise this superb terroir. Le Bon Climat, in contrast, consists of mainly hilltop vineyards which were certified organic in 2003.
Santa Maria Valley
Located in Santa Barbara County, California, Santa Maria Valley is known for its unique climate, known as the Santa Maria Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), which significantly influences the winemaking process and the resulting wines.
The climate is typically cool and moderate, strongly influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean. The region experiences a combination of maritime and inland influences, with foggy mornings, mild days, and cool evenings. This unique climate helps to preserve the natural acidity and delicate flavours of the grapes, making it ideal for producing high-quality wines.
Several grape varieties thrive in the region, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay being the most prominent. Pinot Noir grapes benefit from the region’s cooler climate, producing wines with complexity, elegance, and bright red fruit flavours. Chardonnay grapes also flourish in the Valley’s climate, producing wines with crisp acidity and balanced flavours.
The Winemakers focus on minimal intervention and sustainable practices, allowing the unique characteristics of the grapes and terroir to shine through in the wines. Many wineries employ traditional winemaking methods, including hand-harvesting the grapes and using open-top fermentation vessels for red wines. Some producers also use oak ageing to add complexity and texture to their wines.
The Santa Maria Valley is home to several notable wineries and vineyards, each contributing to the region’s reputation for producing exceptional wines. One of the most renowned wineries in the area is Au Bon Climat.
Pinot Noir
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.
Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.
The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.
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Description
This wine is wonderfully expressive, oozing notes of rich chocolate, dark plum, and stewed strawberry. Highly complex and silky, with intense dark fruit enveloping your palate. It is not over-ripe and retains a lovely freshness alongside a long lingering finish. This wine will reward patience.
Hugo Dale, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
Sweet red cherries and strawberries dominate the nose of this wine, which has a lovely intensity and a really smooth mouthfeel. In typical ABC fashion, however, this isn’t over-rich. By contrast, despite the depth and concentration of flavour, it has great freshness, making it both a gentle and easy-to-enjoy wine. Morello cherries and macerated raspberries dominate the palate, completed by a fresh red fruit and stony mineral finish. Just lovely.
Drink 2023 - 2039
Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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