La Bauge Au-Dessus Estate Pinot Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2027
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, creamy mushroom risotto, herb-crusted pork loin
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted by the late, legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen, the 'La Bauge Au-Dessus' Pinot Noir is a testament to Au Bon Climat's deep Burgundian soul and playful spirit. The name, which whimsically translates to 'the wild boar's wallow above' or 'the party upstairs,' reflects Clendenen's larger-than-life personality and humor. Sourced from the estate-grown blocks of the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, this wine benefits from the region's unique transverse valley system, which funnels cool Pacific breezes and morning fog directly onto the vines. This cool-climate terroir allows for slow, even ripening, preserving vibrant acidity and complex aromatics. In the cellar, traditional Burgundian techniques are employed: hand-harvested fruit is fermented in open-top fermenters with manual punch-downs, followed by aging in classic Francois Fr res French oak barrels (typically 50% new) for up to 20 months. The result is a Pinot Noir of exceptional balance, showing bright cranberry and raspberry fruit intermingled with savory notes of forest floor, clove, and subtle smoky oak.
🍾 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%