Au Bon Climat - Pinot Gris - Pinot Blanc 2023 (750ml)

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Price: $32.99

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Producer	Au Bon Climat
Country	United States
Region	Santa Barbara County
Varietal	Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc
Vintage	2023
Sku	100586
Size	750ml
ABV	13.50%

Au Bon Climat Description

Robins

Tasting Notes

A refreshing nose with upfront notes of kumquat, green apple, and pear. Floral hints of dandelion and squash blossom complement the fruit character. The wine features a light yet robust texture, as pleasant sandstone minerality interacts with balanced acidity and fresh lemon peel flavors.

Winemaker Notes

Harvested with low sugar and high acidity, the crisp Pinot Gris portion of the blend supplies the energy, while the Pinot Blanc delivers minerality and depth. The majority of Pinot Gris is harvested from Sierra Madre Vineyard. The Pinot Blanc portion is from Bien Nacido Vineyard. The 2023 vintage experienced a prolonged and cool growing season, meaning these whites were picked three to four weeks later than average. Later harvesting and slower ripening means exceptional acidity retention in these white wines that also offer themselves to aging. All the Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc is harvested by hand, whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented in neutral French oak. Malolactic fermentation is allowed to complete in barrel. This softens the piercing acid of the Pinot Gris and gives the wine some richness and stability. The wine is sulfured and rests sur lie until late Spring. After racking and processing, the wine is returned to the barrel for 2 months before bottling. Early bottle whites usually require light filtration.

Wine Specifics

Harvested: September 14, 2023
Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.4
Acidity: 6.1 g/L
Sugars: 0

The Backstory

Au Bon Climat is a Burgundy-centric winery, meaning if the grapes aren’t found in Burgundy, then Au Bon Climat doesn’t produce that wine. In Burgundy, white wines are limited to Aligoté, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay. Starting in 1990, Au Bon Climat made single varietal Pinot Blanc, and with the 1995 vintage, a single varietal Pinot Gris. These wines showed great promise, leading to the first Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc blend in 1997. The wine was so successful that it has become a staple in the Au Bon Climat portfolio ever since, with the percentages of each variety changing with each vintage.

The Pinot Gris primarily comes from the Sierra Madre Vineyard, one of the oldest vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley. Established in the early 1970s, it has changed hands five times in the last 40 years, including five years under Mondavi ownership in the late 1990s. Mondavi's investment significantly benefitted the vineyard. Known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Sierra Madre has only 12 acres of Pinot Gris. The Pinot Blanc comes from Bien Nacido, recognized as one of the world's elite vineyards. With these two excellent fruit sources, creating this wonderfully expressive wine each year is straightforward.

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