2023 Au Bon Climat, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, California, USA

Santa Barbara County’s climate and terroir consistently enable Au Bon Climat to produce balanced and lively Chardonnays year after year. The 2023 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is sourced from five carefully farmed vineyards: Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and North Canyon.

Throughout September and October, the fruit is handpicked and sorted in the vineyard, then whole cluster pressed. The juice is quickly settled, chilled, and transferred to barrels for primary fermentation and malolactic fermentation. The following summer, the lots are blended, and the wine is bottled after 8 months of sur lie barrel ageing in neutral François Frères barrels.

Producer note

A bouquet of citron, apple blossom, and chamomile culminate in fresh floral notes on the nose. Bright acidity and flavours of grapefruit and baker’s yeast make this wine a joy to drink now and a versatile option for food pairing.