Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Reserve
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, herb-crusted rack of lamb
✨ Technical Specifications
The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, planted in 1971 by pioneers Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict, is the birthplace of fine Pinot Noir in the Sta. Rita Hills. Recognizing the extraordinary potential of these ancient, own-rooted vines, Au Bon Climat's legendary founder Jim Clendenen began sourcing fruit from this historic site in the early 1980s. Grown on thin, calcium-rich soils littered with chert and diatomaceous earth, the grapes benefit from the intense maritime winds channeled through the Santa Ynez Valley. Crafted using traditional Burgundian methods—including open-top fermentation, manual punch-downs, and extensive aging in classic François Frères French oak barrels—this Reserve bottling represents a masterclass in restraint, structure, and terroir expression, balancing bright red fruit with savory, earthy complexity.
🍾 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%