La Bauge Au-dessus" translates as a “wild party up stairs”. The wine shows off its Old World Burgundian style with complex aromatics and layered flavors of cranberry, red berries, rose petals, spice, and sage - signature characteristics of Pinot from the Santa Maria Valley region. The fruit comes from the Bien Nacido Vineyard and Le Bon Climat Vineyard, both in the Santa Maria Valley. It is a sophisticated Pinot of depth that is very drinkable now. Scored 93 points Wine Enthusiast Magazine; 90 points Vinous.
--------THE PRODUCER--------
Au Bon Climat
Au Bon Climat (ABC) is a leading winery in the Santa Barbara County region of California. They are the leading winery that inspired the hit movie: Sideways, due to the top quality of their Pinot Noirs. Au Bon Climat are known around the world for creating top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - made more in a Burgundian, or traditional French-style, instead of the big and oaky wines that often come out of California.
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--------THE GRAPE--------
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted white grape varieties in the world. It is historically home in Burgundy where it produces a more refined, mineral and poised wines all up and down the Cote de Beaune and in Chablis. Throughout the new world it gained fame in both California and Australia where it is known to produce big, rich, buttery and tropical fruit-laden white wines.
--------THE REGION--------
California
California is the United States of America's largest and most important wine region. It produces 90% of the USA's total production - with the fair majority of that being red wines. Since it is 'always sunny in California' it is the perfect region to grow red grapes that need a lot of heat to ripen up. This has lead to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and an Italian grape varietal: Primitivo (Californian's call in Zinfandel) to being the most important red grapes. Chardonnay is the leading white followed by Sauvignon Blanc.