Elke Vineyard Pinot Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2027
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, grilled salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
The Au Bon Climat Elke Vineyard Pinot Noir represents a fascinating northern excursion for the late, legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen, who was primarily famous for his Santa Barbara County wines. Sourced from the Elke Vineyard in the cool, fog-laden Anderson Valley of Mendocino County—farmed by Mary Elke—this wine showcases a beautiful marriage of terroir and classic Burgundian winemaking. The vineyard's clay-loam soils and chilly maritime climate yield fruit with exceptional natural acidity and bright red-fruit character. Clendenen applied his signature traditional touch, utilizing open-top fermenters, manual punch-downs, and aging in premium French oak barrels from Francois Fr res. The result is an elegant, structured Pinot Noir that balances savory earthiness with vibrant cherry and spice notes, standing as a testament to Clendenen's visionary exploration of California's finest cool-climate sites.
🍾 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
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13.0% - 14.0%