2020 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard
| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2034 |
In stock
43 items available
Description
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.
Specifications
| Packing information | Box |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | USA |
| Region | Oregon |
| Appellation | Willamette Valley |
| Winery | Au Bon Climat |
| Grape | Pinot Noir |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2034 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| Vinous rating | 93 |
| Tasting Profiles | Droog, Fruitig, Houtgerijpt, Rood fruit, Soepel, Vol |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 96
Reviewed by:
Erin Brooks
Release Price:
$50
Drink Date:
2020 - 2030
The 2017 Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard is a stunning wine with incredible complexity and depth. Pale to medium ruby, the nose offers loads of angostura-like spices with touches of licorice, cola, mushrooms and a core of red and black berries. The medium-bodied palate is super spicy and layered with a soft frame and bright freshness, and it finishes very long. 400 cases produced.
Published: Oct 30, 2020
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
93
Drinking Window
2023 - 2033
From: Santa Barbara: On the Road…Finally! (Oct 2021)
The 2018 Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard is super expressive in this tasting. Red cherry, plum, spice, rose petal, blood orange, leather and star anise notes lend a palpable sense of exoticism. Round, plush and creamy, the Runway Pinot is one of the more voluptuous, racy wines in the range.
- By Antonio Galloni on June 2021
Jim Clendenen was the most important and influential figure in Santa Barbara prior to his passing earlier this year just a few days before I was scheduled to see him. To be sure, a number of Clendenen’s peers, notably Rick Longoria, Adam Tolmach and Bob Lindquist, have made compelling wines for decades, but Clendenen’s outsized personality amplified everything. His death leaves a huge void for the wine community. I had a hard time concentrating during my tasting with General Manager Jim Adelman and Clendenen’s daughter, Isabelle, as the conversation brought back so many memories. In the end, I tasted all the wines again back home in New York. As I have written in the past, the Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vineyards wines, once regarded as very restrained, often taste quite opulent today because of how much styles have shifted. That is especially true of the Chardonnays, which can come across as pretty opulent, especially for readers who have been taught that ‘Burgundian’ in white wine is a synonym for lean and austere. The Pinots also see a fair amount of new oak but are also done with a significant number of whole clusters. All the wines remain reference points for high-end, site-specific Santa Barbara wine.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Wijnhuis
The brain behind the Au Bon Climat winery is Jim Clendenen. He was born in Akron, Ohio and graduated in law from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1976. During his studies he had his "junior year abroad" in 1974 in France where he discovered that life was more than just tacos.
After graduation, he spent both a month in Burgundy and Champagne, which convinced him to pursue a career in wine rather than pursuing a law degree. During the 1978 harvest, Jim Clendenen was an assistant winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery. He stayed there for 3 years and gained a great wealth of experience. In 1982 Clendenen, together with Adam Tolmach, decided to establish a winery with only Burgundian varieties of rented plots. In 1990 Adam left again and Jim took the helm solo. Through careful reinvestment from its own production, Au Bon Climat (meaning "a well-exposed vineyard") has grown to over 50,000 crates per year.
Au Bon Climat collects grapes from several vineyards on the California Central Coast, particularly Santa Barbara County, all of which are highly regarded. These include Clendenen's very own Le Bon Climat Vineyard and also grapes from the legendary Bien Nacido vineyard - both in Santa Maria Valley. Also grapes from Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, Los Alamos Vineyard (Santa Barbara County) and Talley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County.
The winery has built an international reputation with its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Jim Clendenen, as they call it the "Mind Behind" Au Bon Climat, is recognized worldwide for its classically styled wines. In 1989 and 1990, Au Bon Climat was on Robert Parker's shortlist of Best Wineries in the World and in 1991 was selected by Oz Clark as one of the 50 global creators of Modern Classic Wines. Dan Berger of the Los Angeles Times named Clendenen "Los Angeles Time Winemaker of the Year" in 1992; Food & Wine Magazine named him "Winemaker of the Year" in 2001. Germany's leading wine magazine Wein Gourmet named Clendenen "Winemaker of the World;" and in 2007 Jim was inducted into the James Beard Foundation's "Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America." There are many accolades, but Jim does not rest on his laurels. He is constantly looking to refine his profession and therefore leads the pack.
Au Bon Climat wines order online at Grand Cru wines
You can of course buy Au Bon Climat wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine trade with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium, where you can order both special wines and wines for every budget. Quality products, fast delivery & reliable service that is Grand Crus!
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.
| Packing information | Box |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | USA |
| Region | Oregon |
| Appellation | Willamette Valley |
| Winery | Au Bon Climat |
| Grape | Pinot Noir |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2034 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| Vinous rating | 93 |
| Tasting Profiles | Droog, Fruitig, Houtgerijpt, Rood fruit, Soepel, Vol |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 96
Reviewed by:
Erin Brooks
Release Price:
$50
Drink Date:
2020 - 2030
The 2017 Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard is a stunning wine with incredible complexity and depth. Pale to medium ruby, the nose offers loads of angostura-like spices with touches of licorice, cola, mushrooms and a core of red and black berries. The medium-bodied palate is super spicy and layered with a soft frame and bright freshness, and it finishes very long. 400 cases produced.
Published: Oct 30, 2020
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
93
Drinking Window
2023 - 2033
From: Santa Barbara: On the Road…Finally! (Oct 2021)
The 2018 Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard is super expressive in this tasting. Red cherry, plum, spice, rose petal, blood orange, leather and star anise notes lend a palpable sense of exoticism. Round, plush and creamy, the Runway Pinot is one of the more voluptuous, racy wines in the range.
- By Antonio Galloni on June 2021
Jim Clendenen was the most important and influential figure in Santa Barbara prior to his passing earlier this year just a few days before I was scheduled to see him. To be sure, a number of Clendenen’s peers, notably Rick Longoria, Adam Tolmach and Bob Lindquist, have made compelling wines for decades, but Clendenen’s outsized personality amplified everything. His death leaves a huge void for the wine community. I had a hard time concentrating during my tasting with General Manager Jim Adelman and Clendenen’s daughter, Isabelle, as the conversation brought back so many memories. In the end, I tasted all the wines again back home in New York. As I have written in the past, the Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vineyards wines, once regarded as very restrained, often taste quite opulent today because of how much styles have shifted. That is especially true of the Chardonnays, which can come across as pretty opulent, especially for readers who have been taught that ‘Burgundian’ in white wine is a synonym for lean and austere. The Pinots also see a fair amount of new oak but are also done with a significant number of whole clusters. All the wines remain reference points for high-end, site-specific Santa Barbara wine.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
The brain behind the Au Bon Climat winery is Jim Clendenen. He was born in Akron, Ohio and graduated in law from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1976. During his studies he had his "junior year abroad" in 1974 in France where he discovered that life was more than just tacos.
After graduation, he spent both a month in Burgundy and Champagne, which convinced him to pursue a career in wine rather than pursuing a law degree. During the 1978 harvest, Jim Clendenen was an assistant winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery. He stayed there for 3 years and gained a great wealth of experience. In 1982 Clendenen, together with Adam Tolmach, decided to establish a winery with only Burgundian varieties of rented plots. In 1990 Adam left again and Jim took the helm solo. Through careful reinvestment from its own production, Au Bon Climat (meaning "a well-exposed vineyard") has grown to over 50,000 crates per year.
Au Bon Climat collects grapes from several vineyards on the California Central Coast, particularly Santa Barbara County, all of which are highly regarded. These include Clendenen's very own Le Bon Climat Vineyard and also grapes from the legendary Bien Nacido vineyard - both in Santa Maria Valley. Also grapes from Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, Los Alamos Vineyard (Santa Barbara County) and Talley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County.
The winery has built an international reputation with its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Jim Clendenen, as they call it the "Mind Behind" Au Bon Climat, is recognized worldwide for its classically styled wines. In 1989 and 1990, Au Bon Climat was on Robert Parker's shortlist of Best Wineries in the World and in 1991 was selected by Oz Clark as one of the 50 global creators of Modern Classic Wines. Dan Berger of the Los Angeles Times named Clendenen "Los Angeles Time Winemaker of the Year" in 1992; Food & Wine Magazine named him "Winemaker of the Year" in 2001. Germany's leading wine magazine Wein Gourmet named Clendenen "Winemaker of the World;" and in 2007 Jim was inducted into the James Beard Foundation's "Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America." There are many accolades, but Jim does not rest on his laurels. He is constantly looking to refine his profession and therefore leads the pack.
Au Bon Climat wines order online at Grand Cru wines
You can of course buy Au Bon Climat wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine trade with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium, where you can order both special wines and wines for every budget. Quality products, fast delivery & reliable service that is Grand Crus!