Pinot Noir Isabell Morgan
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release, with the structure to age gracefully for up to 20 years in proper cellar conditions.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, herb-crusted rack of lamb
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Crafted as a tribute to founder Jim Clendenen's daughter, Isabelle Morgan Clendenen, this cuvée represents the pinnacle of Au Bon Climat's blending artistry. First created in 1994, 'Isabelle' is unique because it is not a single-vineyard bottling; instead, Clendenen sought to craft the ultimate California Pinot Noir by selecting and blending the absolute best barrels from top-tier, cool-climate vineyards across California, including Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict, and Talley. Utilizing traditional Burgundian techniques, the wine is fermented in open-top fermenters with manual punch-downs and aged in premium François Frères French oak barrels. This meticulous selection process yields a Pinot Noir of profound depth, complexity, and structure, seamlessly blending rich dark fruit, savory spice, and a signature mineral backbone.
🍾 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.