Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Au Bon Climat, tech sheet (hentet 17. okt. 2026): 2023 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir – appellation: Santa Maria Valley; vinmark(er): Bien Nacido Vineyard; drue: 100% Pinot Noir; fadlagring: 18 months, 100% new François Frères French oak barrels; høst: August 25, 2023; alkohol 13.5%. Om vinmarken (producentens tekst, engelsk): Bien Nacido Vineyard is the crown jewel of the Santa Maria Valley AVA and an icon of California cool-climate vineyards. Founded in 1973 by brothers Stephen and Bob Miller, Bien Nacido (Spanish for “Well Born”) has gained international acclaim for its exceptional grapes. Au Bon Climat has a unique connection to the vineyard, with custom fruit blocks and long-term contracts for hillside vines dating back to the early 1990s. Our winery production is located on property at Bien Nacido for the most direct oversight of our more unique varietals. Many of the grapes we source from Bien Nacido were planted specifically at our request. Recognized for its role in advancing Burgundian varietals on the Central Coast and California wines at large, Bien Nacido is featured in our “Historic Vineyards Collection” on the label. Fra vinmageren (producentens tekst, engelsk): If there is one characteristic that sets this varietal apart from other growing regions, it is the complex Santa Maria Valley aromatics. The Pinot Noir fruit in this wine from Bien Nacido is Pommard clone from Block 3. As with all our Pinot Noirs, we are “hands-on” beginning with hand harvesting. The fruit is fermented in 5-ton open-top fermenters and punched down twice a day. These punch downs break up the cap of skins that rise to the surface so the fermentation process extracts the best part of the Pinot grapes. The wine is pressed to complete dryness and goes to barrel with moderate lees. It was aged 18 months in 100% new François Frères French oak barrels. Smagsnote (producentens tekst, engelsk): Aromas of strawberry and dragonfruit offer an elegant introduction, lifted by subtle hints reminiscent of brandy-soaked Christmas fruitcake. The palate begins with a vibrant mix of red and black fruits—most notably cranberry and blackberry— layered with undertones of sage and black pepper that add depth and texture through the finish. This wine captures the intriguing contrasts of Pinot Noir: bright red fruit alongside savory herbaceousness, refined elegance balanced with a touch of brashness.