Santa Barbara County

This Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir is a relatively new addition to our Own Selection range, made specially for us by the highly regarded winemaker Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat. The 2017 follows a similar flavour profile to the 2016, with raspberries and red cherries, however its riper, juicier bramble fruit and luscious texture display the vintage's generous characteristics. The wine's ripe tannins provide sufficient grip on the finish, balanced by refreshing acidity and spicy complexity.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Founded in 1982, Au Bon Climat produces internationally-recognised Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from grapes grown in California’s Santa Barbara County. “ABC”, as the property is more commonly known, has won universal acclaim for its wines thanks to Jim “Wild Boy” Clendenen, its winemaker and owner.

This is a nod to Burgundy but with lots of ripe, bright New World fruit. It has a cool nose of orchard fruit with hints of spice and a light mineral note, while on the palate classic flavours of apple, citrus and vanilla prevail with a rich, buttery finish. Drink now to 2026.

This wines if full of fleshy white-peach, citrus zest, fresh apricot and spice notes. This wine has a generosity of flavour on the palate combined with an energetic and lively acidity that makes this wine perfect as an apéritif or accompanying white meat or fish. Drink now to 2021.
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)

The Knox Alexander feels straight-backed and proud, its ‘Pinosity’ cutting through like a knife. Serious, rather than seductive, this is a tight, focused wine with bright acidity. The tannins are extremely fine yet hugely present, surrounded by a restrained core of fresh but sumptuous, pure fruit. The wine has beautiful precision and is completely spellbinding. This is a masterclass in how to make ‘proper’ Pinot Noir from a winemaker at the top of his game.
Catriona Felstead MW, Wine Buyer

Lively red fruit, with a smoky note from the stems (60%). Very aromatic and pure – a classic Au Bon Climat hallmark is the intense fragrance of the Pinots. Floral as well. Masses of ripe, soft red fruit on the palate, think redcurrants, cranberries, et al. Very supple tannins and a fine boned structure. One for Christmas lunch in a couple of years.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager

Knox (named after Jim’s son) is a blend of the best fruit from the Bien Nacido and Le Bon Climat Vineyards. The wines see 18 months in barrel (75% new French oak) and filtration is done only as a last resort. The wine then rests in bottle for a year before it is released. The 2006 has a serious weighty fruit on the nose that will need 3-5 years to show its best. Very focused and darker berry fruits come to the fore. Superbly structured, with well-defined red and black fruit that will fill out with time. Another top-drawer wine.
Hong Kong Fine Wine Team

Jim Clendenen, the talented, highly individual proprietor at ABC, produces a clutch of top-class Pinots from single vineyards but Isabelle is not one of them. Instead it is a blend of the very best barrels that the winery produces from its myriad vineyard sites. After being racked once, shortly after the blend is created and put into barrel, the wine remains undisturbed for 24 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It is a hedonistic experience to drink! Aromas of ripe, black summer fruits abound and the palate has a spicy, rich almost exotic flavour. The texture is velvety but tannins lurk in the background, in no way intrusive and wholly beneficial to the wines’ ageing , but above all ripe and in no way aggressive. A beautiful expression of Pinot Noir which will partner a rib of beef really well and will last for 10 years comfortably.

The 2013 Pinot Noir Rinconada Vineyard comes from a site just to the west of the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard (it's farmed by the same team). It shows great Sta. Rita Hills character in its savory spice, dried soil, mineral and both black cherry and blackberry styled fruits. Medium-bodied, nicely structured and balanced, it will drink nicely through 2023.
92+/100 Jeb Dunnuck, eRobertParker.com #220, Aug 2015