2020 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard

The Pinot Noir, Runway Vineyard is a wine from Au Bon Climat's Single Vineyard Collection. This consists of wines that come from some of the most prized vineyards in California. This collection emphasizes the unique character and expression of each individual terroir.

In 2008, Runway Vineyard planted 16 hectares of vines on a 1,000-acre site. Since then, the vineyard has become a remarkable source of excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vineyard is located directly adjacent to the prestigious Bien Nacido Vineyard, where the winery is located. Each year, the vineyard has improved thanks to refined farming practices. Intrigued by the quality, we began purchasing their grapes early on. Runway Vineyard Pinot Noir is now a key component of the single vineyard program. Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley is known for its cherry, cranberry, rose petal and spice aromas, with a firm structure. Runway Vineyard grapes offer these characteristics, but with more richness and intensity. While each vintage has been excellent, the 2020 vintage is considered the best yet.

The au Bon Climat Runaway is an expressive Pinot Noir and shows the character of the Santa Maria Valley like no other, with aromas of cranberry, cherry and rose petals. The wine has a core of red and black currants and offers an abundance of spice, with accents of licorice, cola and sage leaves. It is a well-structured, balanced wine with a deep color and more richness and intensity than most Pinot Noirs. Round and full-bodied, it is one of the most sensual, vibrant wines of the style. The 2020 vintage is considered the best yet.

Serving advice
Pair this full-bodied and elegant Pinot Noir with dishes such as roast lamb, pork or duck, or a creamy porcini risotto.

From the winemaker
The soil of the Runway Vineyard is sandy, which allows the grapes to ripen quickly as the summer weather warms up. Our proximity allows us to harvest the grapes at the perfect time. Our approach to Pinot Noir is meticulous.

Each Pinot Noir is fermented in 5-ton open fermentation vats, with the grape canopy being broken once or twice a day (punch-downs). This process ensures that the best flavors and colorants are extracted from the grapes. After fermentation, the wine is pressed completely dry and transferred to oak barrels with a moderate amount of lees.

The wine matured for almost 24 months in French oak barrels from François Frères, of which approximately 50% were new. As with all our single vineyard Pinot Noirs, this wine received all the attention needed to guarantee optimum quality.

Au Bon Climat 's Single Vineyard Collection features wines from some of California's most prized vineyards. This collection highlights the unique character and expression of each individual terroir.

Important Vineyards in the Collection:

• Bien Nacido Vineyard: Located in the Santa Maria Valley, this vineyard is known for its exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Au Bon Climat has a long-term contract for the best block of Chardonnay from this vineyard.

• Sanford & Benedict Vineyard: This sustainably managed vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills has helped establish Santa Barbara County as a world-class producer of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Wines from this vineyard are part of Au Bon Climat's Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection.

• Los Alamos Vineyard: Known for its pure and refreshing Chardonnay with aromas of wet limestone and delicate flavors of white peach and lime.

• Runway Vineyard: This vineyard produces rich, intense Pinot Noir with the characteristic aromas of cherry, cranberry and rose petals typical of the Santa Maria Valley.

Characteristics of the Single Vineyard Wines:

Each wine in this collection reflects the unique characteristics of its specific vineyard, with an emphasis on terroir and varietal. The wines are carefully crafted to preserve the authenticity and character of their origins.

FACT: In the tab 'Attachments' you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send you this when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will often also receive a nice discount . You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht almost next to the A16 with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.