Wine Advisor
Au Bon Climat, Knox Alexander Pinot Noir 2020
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Pinot Noir Knox Alexander is a barrel selection of Santa Maria sites, mostly from Bien Nacido, that spent two years in 100% new French oak. This is an especially floral, lifted style with a fair amount of stems and plenty of Santa Maria savoriness. It's an eccentric wine, but all the elements are nicely balanced. Orange peel, mint, star anise and bright acids linger on the delicate yet persistent finish.
About the Producer
Au Bon Climat is a U.S.-based winery, founded in 1982 by Adam Tolmach and Jim Clendenen in the early years of the Santa Barbara County wine industry. In 1990, Tolmach left to start Ojai Winery and Clendenen became sole proprietor and winemaker. The winery is located in Santa Maria, California, and exclusively produces Burgundian-styled wine from grape varietals Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. According to the winery's website, the primary source for Au Bon Climat's grapes is the Bien Nacido Vineyard, in northern Santa Barbara County, where the winery itself is located. Au Bon Climat also sources grapes from the Le Bon Climat Vineyard, the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, the Los Alamos Vineyard, the Rancho La Cuna Vineyard, and San Luis Obispo County's Talley Vineyards. The winery makes about 10 different Pinot Noirs, and 6 different Chardonnays each vintage. Most are vineyard designated on the label. From the beginning, Old World winemaking methods were employed and still are today. The objective to create tightly focused, balanced, nuanced wines with great aging potential has never changed, even as fads in California winemaking have come on gone. Clendenen stayed true to his convictions and was proven correct as a more educated market came back to wines of balance. Through careful re-investment from its own production, Au Bon Climat grew to over 50,000 cases annually while earning world-wide acclaim. A guiding light for the Santa Barbara County wine region since its infancy, Au Bon Climat and Clendenen were essential in elevating the quality of Burgundian varietals on the Central Coast, and key in generating international recognition of Santa Barbara County as a world class wine region.
