Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, seared salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
Au Bon Climat's Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir is a masterful expression of one of the Santa Maria Valley's most historic sites. Originally planted in 1970 and named after Julia Jackson, this vineyard features some of the oldest Pinot Noir plantings in the region. The cool, wind-swept maritime climate and sandy loam soils of the Santa Maria Valley allow for a long, slow ripening period, preserving the grape's natural acidity and delicate aromatics. Winemaker Jim Clendenen championed this site for its ability to produce wines of immense grace and longevity. Crafted using traditional Burgundian methods, including open-top fermentation and aging in classic French oak barrels, this Pinot Noir is celebrated for its bright red fruit profile, savory dried herb undertones, and a distinct mineral backbone that reflects its coastal terroir.
🍾 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)
13.5%