Mt. Carmel Pinot Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted duck, creamy mushroom risotto, seared salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
Perched on the high, wind-swept slopes of the Sta. Rita Hills, the Mt. Carmel Vineyard is a legendary site defined by its extreme conditions and unique diatomaceous soils. Planted in 1989, this dry-farmed, steep vineyard forces vines to struggle, resulting in tiny, intensely concentrated berries. The late, iconic winemaker Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat was among the first to champion this rugged terroir, crafting a Pinot Noir of remarkable tension and depth. Utilizing traditional Burgundian methods, including open-top fermentation and aging in fine Francois Frères French oak barrels, this cuvée beautifully balances the wild, savory character of the Pacific-influenced site with Clendenen's signature elegance, restraint, and vibrant acidity.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 by visionary vintner Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat stands as one of California's most influential pioneers of cool-climate, Burgundian-style winemaking. Situated on the benchlands of the Santa Maria Valley and sourcing from iconic vineyards such as Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict, and the estate Le Bon Climat, the estate thrives within transverse valleys channeled by cold maritime airflow off the Pacific Ocean. Viticulture emphasizes sustainability, with key estate holdings certified organic. In the cellar, the late Clendenen's philosophy lives on through longtime winemaker Jim Adelman alongside Jim's children, Isabelle and Knox Clendenen. Vinification champions classical European restraint: whole-cluster pressing, native and selected yeast fermentations in François Frères French oak barrels, full lees contact, and unhurried elevage without excessive new wood or heavy extraction. Celebrated benchmark whites include the single-vineyard Bien Nacido K Block, Sanford & Benedict, and the flagship Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches Au Bouge, each exemplifying bright minerality, seamless acid architecture, and remarkable cellar longevity.
🍇 Grapes
Pinot Noir
🍷 ABV
13.5