Isabelle Pinot Noir
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release, with exceptional vintages easily cellar-worthy for two decades.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, herb-crusted rack of lamb
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Created by the legendary, late winemaker Jim Clendenen, the 'Isabelle' Pinot Noir is a deeply personal flagship cuvée named in honor of his daughter, born in 1995. Unlike single-vineyard designates, Isabelle is a masterclass in blending, representing a selection of the absolute best barrels from Au Bon Climat's most prestigious cool-climate vineyard sources across California, including the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley and Sanford & Benedict in the Sta. Rita Hills. Crafted using traditional Burgundian techniques—such as open-top fermenters, manual punch-downs, and aging in 100% new Francois Frères French oak barrels—this wine is celebrated for its remarkable balance, seamless integration, and structural longevity, bridging the gap between California's vibrant fruit and Burgundy's refined elegance.
🍾 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.