Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Au Bon Climat — Chardonnay 2023
Santa Barbara County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A classic Santa Barbara County Chardonnay from Au Bon Climat, reflecting the restrained, balanced style that made Jim Clendenen’s wines such benchmarks for the region. This is Chardonnay without unnecessary theatrics: cool-climate freshness, measured richness, and an easygoing personality that still carries plenty of character.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh apple, pear, lemon, white peach, and citrus blossom, with subtle vanilla, mineral, and lightly toasted nuances adding complexity without dominating the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, fresh, and beautifully balanced. The acidity provides just the right amount of tension, while a subtle creamy texture rounds the palate. Clean, composed, and remarkably easy to enjoy.

Food Pairings
Grilled fish, roasted chicken, shrimp, crab cakes, creamy pasta, or simply enjoyed on its own.

Verdict
A solid representation of what Santa Barbara Chardonnay does so well. It has freshness without austerity, texture without heaviness, and enough complexity to remain interesting while being completely approachable. A terrific casual Chardonnay.

Did You Know?
Au Bon Climat was founded by Jim Clendenen in 1982 and became one of the defining producers of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County, favoring balance and restraint long before those qualities became fashionable in California.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is what I want a casual Santa Barbara Chardonnay to taste like. Affable, balanced, subtly textured, and carrying just enough tension to keep every sip fresh. Nothing overdone and nothing missing. It has officially earned a spot among my New World Chardonnay staples. — 6 hours ago

S.S. Mandani

9.1

Perfumed red fruits.

Cherry, zippy structure, earthen, licorice, fennel. — 7 months ago

Jenks

9.0

Apparently this translates to “up all night” or something heeeeeyyyyy — 2 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.0

Apple, lemon candy, dried apricot, oak and hints of peach. Great acidity and balance. — 3 years ago

Hawk Bear

9.0

Smooth and not too oaked. Got in wine club shipment — 4 years ago

Adam Beasley

9.0

Young and lean, this presents the classic aromas and flavors you expect. Earth and mineral driven with slightly underripe red and black fruit and veggies. A wine that only works well with a meal. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A few things first.

This Jasper Hill Farms Harbison is the creamiest, gooey delight out there, once you let it warm up. I take it out a 1/2 hour before serving. It is wrapped in spruce cambium, which is the inner bark layer of a spruce tree. Gives it a interesting characteristic. Always a great pair with WB and or Blanc de Blanc Champagne.

PYCM is simply one of the better & consistent white burgundy producers. They’re close to town and not far from Olivier Leflaive. Right around the corner basically.

2020-23 has been a good run in white burgundy. Maybe, 24 too. Not sure yet. I haven’t had a big enough sample size yet. The ones I have had, very good.

The nose reveals; Meyer lemon, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, white stone fruits, honeycomb, frothy cream, light caramel, some herbaceous notes, paraffin, sea fossils, saline, grey volcanics, dry limestone, chalky powder, yellow & white lilies that remind me of funeral arrangements.

The palate is round to thick, vicious & waxy. The flavors mirror the nose. Meyer lemon, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, white stone fruits, honeycomb, frothy cream, butterscotch, caramel, some herbaceous notes, white spice that palate burro’s w/ pleasant heat, paraffin, sea fossils, saline, grey volcanic fine bits, dry limestone, chalky powder, with tiny bits, yellow & white lilies that remind me of funeral arrangements, rainfall acidity with a round, lush, well balanced finish w/ good length/tension and lasts two-minutes long setting on earth-volcanics & spice. — a month ago

S.S. Mandani

9.1

Peppers, cherries, black pepper, star anise.

Tart cherry, light peppercorn, nice front palate tannins. A bit of earth. — 6 months ago

Chris A

9.2

Wow. Excellent on the nose. An amazingly soft & delicate dance on the palette that twirls a classic chard with a soft vanilla and buttery background with just the right citrus finish. Need to buy more than one bottle at a time! — 2 years ago

Erja Koistinen

9.0

Perfect with iberico. We all liked this. Tätä voisi juoda vaikka jouluna kinkun kanssa. — 4 years ago

Guy Fella

9.3

Wonderful balance of white flowers, homey, pear, butter, and toast. I love this profile, this bottle was exactly what i was looking for. Would highly recommend — 4 years ago

Justin Lintz

9.2

Good everyday — 5 years ago

Meri Crowther

9.1

Great fresh drinking white. Amazing price performer. — 6 years ago

with Matthew

Amy

9.0

master the world — loved!! — 3 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Blend of Tempranillo and Graciano. Medium ruby color with a dark core and orange rim. Aromas of coffee, leather, ripe red fruit, wet stones and forest floor. Flavors of black berry/currant/plum fruit, black licorice, balsamic vinegar and roasted meat and nuts. Long earthy and slightly spicy finish. Pleasant acidity and silky (but slightly chalky) tannins. Full bodied, round and elegant. Beautifully aged. Thanks for sharing, Keith S! Happy 60th Birthday, Karyn! — 5 months ago

Stephen Stone

8.9

Enjoying outside at Substrate with a pepperoni and mushroom pizza from Bird. Light floral salinity. Bright citrus. — 7 months ago

with Janet

Eric I

9.2

Great wine to pair with an LSU loss — 3 years ago

Ola Lenin

9.3

Schoolbook pinot with warm strawberry and sloeberry fruit. Cranberries on the finish. Some oak and spices on the finish. Simply very enjoyable! — 4 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.2

Cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, blackberry, mossy earth and oak. Light-bodied and moderate tannins. — 5 years ago

Tom Balamaci

9.2

Fantastic example of the region and one of its top winemakers doing what they do to produce an exceptional, balanced Chardonnay — 5 years ago