Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir 2021

Au Bon Climat's Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir comes from the legendary Sanford & Benedict vineyard, located in the cool Santa Rita Hills, in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, California. Planted on slopes exposed to the Pacific ocean breezes, this site benefits from a cool and windy climate that prolongs the ripening of the grapes. The soils, a mix of shale, pebbles, and marine deposits, favor a refined expression of Pinot Noir, with a beautiful natural tension and great aromatic complexity.

From historic vines in the Sanford & Benedict vineyard, this Pinot Noir is harvested manually at perfect ripeness, with careful sorting in the vineyard and at the winery. The berries are fermented with partially destemmed bunches to preserve aromatic elegance and fine tannins. Fermentation takes place in tanks with measured pump-overs to gently extract color and structure. Aging then occurs slowly in oak barrels, a significant proportion of which are French oak, to refine the texture and complexify the bouquet.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry, raspberry, and plum, complemented by floral nuances of violet and dried rose, as well as spicy touches of mild pepper and clove. Woody accents of vanilla and cedar blend with more earthy and slightly mineral notes. The palate presents a silky texture, fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a long, precise finish that retains beautiful energy.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that revitalized the Californian wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa regions. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933, Prohibition decimated the vast majority of the Californian wine industry, so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained. It wasn't until 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition, and California was primarily known for producing fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous wineries were established (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc.). In 1976, a landmark event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris." It pitted the greatest French wines against the new American upstarts. On May 24th, an unexpected result shook the wine world, as, to everyone's surprise, the United States emerged victorious. This competition, however, remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. While California largely dominates the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world, and Washington State offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.