La Bauge au-dessus 2021

Located in the cool Santa Maria Valley, in the northern part of Santa Barbara County, California, the La Bauge au-dessus cuvée comes from coastal vineyards influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Morning fogs, sunny yet temperate afternoons, and regular winds promote slow and complete grape ripening. The soils, a mix of loams, sands, and marine deposits, provide structure and complexity, while the cool exposure preserves natural acidity. This unique terroir, emblematic of the Central Coast, allows for the creation of a Pinot Noir that is expressive, balanced, and deeply marked by its origin.

The Pinot Noir grapes are hand-harvested and then sorted before fermentation in tanks, with a maceration period to extract color and structure. Malolactic fermentation is carried out to soften tannins and refine the texture. The wine is then aged in oak barrels, with a significant proportion of French oak, to develop aromatic complexity, depth, and balance, before bottling at the estate.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry, ripe raspberry, and plum, complemented by floral touches of violet and dried rose, as well as spicy nuances of sweet pepper and clove. Woody accents of vanilla, cedar, and delicate smoke blend into a silky palate with fine tannins and fresh acidity, offering a full yet balanced texture and a persistent, slightly spicy and savory finish.

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.