La Bauge Au-Dessus Estate Pinot Noir
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, creamy mushroom risotto, herb-crusted pork loin
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 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.