Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 2022
2022, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 2022
Chardonnay
Au Bon Climat
Glass
$22Glass
$22Loading tasteimonials...
Profile & Story
Founded in 1982 by Jim Clendenen after formative trips to Burgundy, Au Bon Climat is a Santa Barbara County winery devoted to making world-class, Burgundian-styled Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs of intrigue, longevity, and balance, using Old World techniques such as barrel fermentation, whole-cluster pressing, and extended lees aging in François Frères barrels rather than the riper, oakier style that was fashionable in the early 2000s. This 2022 bottling marks the winery's 40th vintage of Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, blended from five vineyards, Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and Premier Coastal, hand-picked and sorted across multiple picks in September 2022, whole-cluster pressed, barrel-fermented with malolactic fermentation completed, and aged sur lie for eight months in somewhat neutral François Frères French oak; at 13.5% alcohol, it continues the domaine's subtle, mineral-driven house style.
Tasting Notes
The wine offers flavors and aromas of citrus and stone fruit, finished with a bright lemon-lime zest note; flinty, stony aromas stand out up front, while sur lie barrel aging lends a background spice of clove and nutmeg. Fruit-forward and well-structured, it drinks well on release and is expected to develop into a richer, more complex wine over the next decade.
Pairing Recommendation
The winery suggests pairing it with perfectly seasoned roast chicken, pasta alfredo, seared scallops, or baked brie en croûte.