Au Bon Climat and Bien Nacido Vineyard have shared a symbiotic relationship for decades. Our winery is located on the vineyard, and Bien Nacido has long been our primary source for grapes. The vineyard’s reputation as a world-class site was cemented when our 1990 La Bauge Pinot Noir earned a 93-point score.
In the wake of the movie Sideways, which triggered an explosion of Pinot Noir plantings on the Central Coast, founder Jim Clendenen established the Historic Vineyard Collection. This initiative was created to honor and highlight the foundational vineyards that originally brought credibility to Santa Barbara County wines. As a result, the collection featured vineyard-designated bottlings of both Bien Nacido Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The 2023 Bien Nacido Historic Vineyard Pinot Noir is a delicious wine, sourced from Block 3. Planted in 1996, Block 3 is one of the oldest remaining Pinot Noir blocks, providing the fruit with exceptional “Old Vine” character. The Pommard clone, introduced from Burgundy in the 1950s, yields a wine of great depth and structure. This wine is beautifully balanced with elegant aromas of spice and herbs and a vibrant acidity, ensuring the wine’s remarkable age-worthiness.
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