AU BON CLIMAT 2023 Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc
(60% Pinot Gris, 40% Pinot Blanc)
Santa Barbara County, California
Au Bon Climat is a Burgundy centric winery, meaning if the grapes aren’t grown in Burgundy, then Au Bon Climat doesn’t make that type of wine. Wineries in Burgundy are limited to Aligoté, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay for white wines.
VINEYARD
Harvested with low sugar and high acidity, the crisp Pinot Gris portion of the blend supplies the energy, while the Pinot Blanc delivers minerality and depth. The majority of Pinot Gris is harvested from Sierra Madre Vineyard. The Pinot Blanc portion is from Bien Nacido Vineyard. The 2023 vintage experienced a prolonged and cool growing season, meaning these whites were picked three to four weeks later than average. Later harvesting and slower ripening means exceptional acidity retention in these white wines that also offer themselves to aging.
CELLAR
All the Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc is harvested by hand, whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented in neutral French oak. Malolactic fermentation is allowed to complete in barrel. This softens the piercing acid of the Pinot Gris and gives the wine some richness and stability. The wine is sulfured and rests sur lie until late Spring. After racking and processing, the wine is returned to the barrel for an additional 2 months, aged 8 months total.
ABC – Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2023 – Label
ABC – Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2023 – Tech Sheet
ABC – Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2023 – POS
ABC – Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2022 – Tech Sheet
ABC – Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2022 – POS