Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard 2015
In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends. There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate. It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time. The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard. I recommend to try a “Club”, click this “WineClubLink” to go to their site. I highly recommend a trip to Santa Barbara, you will not be disappointed! Keep checking back with SippingFineWine.com for all of the wineries visited, wines tasted and comments regarding the wines, wineries and folks I met.
After Jim Clendenen handled his “triathlon” three harvests in one year in Australia and France and in 1982 decided, along with Adam Tolmach, to start a winery dedicated to Burgundian varietals in leased quarters. Adam left in 1990 to pursue his own efforts leaving Jim solo at the helm. Through careful re-investment from its own production, Au Bon Climat (which means “a well exposed vineyard”) has grown to over 50,000 cases annually.
Runway’s first vintage was 2013 and the 2015 is great. Limited production from this small vineyard. Aromas of ripe sweet fruit and floral scents burst from the glass, aged in French oak for about 18-20 months (winery folks indicated only a small amount of new oak was used). On the palate intense fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry, complex subtle spice, well balanced with acidity, great mouthfeel. Fine soft tannins lingering ending. Very nice, less than 250 cases produced. Tasting Sample!
Cheers!