Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 2023
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Santa Barbara County's climate and terroir allow Au Bon Climat to consistently make balanced and lively Chardonnays year after year. Our 2022 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is from five well-farmed vineyards: Bien Nacido Vineyard, Los Alamos Vineyard, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and Premier Coastal Vineyard. Throughout September, the fruit is carefully handpicked and sorted in the vineyard.
Au Bon Climat translates as “a well-exposed vineyard” a name suiting the coastal position of the vineyards, with its benevolent Pacific fog and cooling breeze. Making the most of these conditions Au Bon Climat buy clones from Burgundy. This contributes to creating wines which emulate the restraint and finesse of Burgundy and France with a magic touch of New World flair.
After harvesting, the grapes are whole cluster pressed, and juice is quickly settled, chilled, and put to barrel. Barrel fermentation and malo-lactic fermentation are completed. The following summer the lots are blended and wine bottled. Sur lie barrel aging in somewhat neutral François Frères barrels for 8 months provides an intriguing spice note of clove and nutmeg. The wine will keep on developing and gain in complexity for the next decade.
Weather in 2023: Santa Barbara County vintners described 2023 as a “dream vintage” for acidity. The winter months provided an unusually wet year, with well above-average rainfall across the region’s vineyards. The rain washed away salts that had accumulated in the soils and allowed the vines to access previously tied-up nutrients — resulting in balanced canopies for an average fruit load. The rainfall and the long, cool growing season delayed all aspects of fruit development and maturity; the mild, extended season also allowed for average berry size, significant colour development and great flavours and acidity. Sugar increased and acid decreased on a desirable curve that is rarely achievable giving beautifully balanced grapes.
Technical Information:
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyards: Bien Nacido Vineyard, Los Alamos Vineyard, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and Premier Coastal Vineyard
Region: California, Santa Barbara
Alcohol: 13.5 %
pH: 3.43
Acidity: 6.2 g/L
Sugars: 0
Tasting Note: Flavors and aromas of citrus and stone fruit, are finished with a beautiful lemon/lime zest note. The flinty, stony aromas stand out, while in the background is an intriguing spice note of clove and nutmeg from surlies barrel aging in somewhat neutral, Francois Freres barrels for 8 months.
Au Bon Climat translates as “a well-exposed vineyard” a name suiting the coastal position of the vineyards, with its benevolent Pacific fog and cooling breeze. Making the most of these conditions Au Bon Climat buy clones from Burgundy. This contributes to creating wines which emulate the restraint and finesse of Burgundy and France with a magic touch of New World flair.
After harvesting, the grapes are whole cluster pressed, and juice is quickly settled, chilled, and put to barrel. Barrel fermentation and malo-lactic fermentation are completed. The following summer the lots are blended and wine bottled. Sur lie barrel aging in somewhat neutral François Frères barrels for 8 months provides an intriguing spice note of clove and nutmeg. The wine will keep on developing and gain in complexity for the next decade.
Weather in 2023: Santa Barbara County vintners described 2023 as a “dream vintage” for acidity. The winter months provided an unusually wet year, with well above-average rainfall across the region’s vineyards. The rain washed away salts that had accumulated in the soils and allowed the vines to access previously tied-up nutrients — resulting in balanced canopies for an average fruit load. The rainfall and the long, cool growing season delayed all aspects of fruit development and maturity; the mild, extended season also allowed for average berry size, significant colour development and great flavours and acidity. Sugar increased and acid decreased on a desirable curve that is rarely achievable giving beautifully balanced grapes.
Technical Information:
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyards: Bien Nacido Vineyard, Los Alamos Vineyard, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and Premier Coastal Vineyard
Region: California, Santa Barbara
Alcohol: 13.5 %
pH: 3.43
Acidity: 6.2 g/L
Sugars: 0
Tasting Note: Flavors and aromas of citrus and stone fruit, are finished with a beautiful lemon/lime zest note. The flinty, stony aromas stand out, while in the background is an intriguing spice note of clove and nutmeg from surlies barrel aging in somewhat neutral, Francois Freres barrels for 8 months.
