Black by Black
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, grilled salmon
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Au Bon Climat's 'Black by Black' is a highly limited, small-production Pinot Noir that explores the deeper, more brooding spectrum of the Santa Maria Valley terroir. Conceived as a special selection by the late, legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen, this cuvée is crafted from specific vineyard blocks and clones that naturally yield darker fruit profiles, richer structures, and intense spice notes. True to the estate's traditional Burgundian philosophy, the grapes undergo open-top fermentation with manual punch-downs before aging in classic Francois Frères French oak barrels. The result is a wine of exceptional depth and complexity, balancing the power of California fruit with the elegant structure, vibrant acidity, and longevity that define Au Bon Climat's historic winemaking legacy.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1982 by the legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat is a pioneering estate located in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County, California. Situated on the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard, the winery is internationally acclaimed for its unwavering commitment to crafting Burgundian-style wines of balance, restraint, and longevity. Utilizing traditional French winemaking techniques, including open-top fermenters, manual punch-downs, and aging in classic Francois Frères French oak barrels, Au Bon Climat produces highly expressive, food-friendly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their signature expressions, such as the Knox Alexander Pinot Noir and Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Chardonnay, showcase the unique, cool-climate terroir of California's Central Coast.