Black by Black
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2032
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, grilled salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
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.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1982 by the visionary late winemaker Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat is situated in the cool-climate expanse of the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. Operating out of the acclaimed Bien Nacido Vineyard, the winery forged an international reputation by championing restraint, balance, and classical Burgundian traditions long before cool-climate California viticulture entered the mainstream. Driven by early harvesting, indigenous fermentations, and meticulous French oak aging, Au Bon Climat crafts structured, age-worthy wines distinguished by high natural acidity and moderate alcohol levels. The estate is celebrated globally for its expressive site-specific and reserve bottlings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, including iconic signature labels such as Knox Alexander, Isabelle, and Nuits-Blanches au Bouge.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Pinot Noir