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. — 7 days ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.3

Ancient vines. Grapefruit and Meyer lemon. Acid driven with a salt sea breeze. Really superior and a great match with crab chowder. — 4 years ago

with Judy

Johnny Baltimore

9.5

So good. perfect with crab cakes during holiday week — 6 years ago

Nick Wagner

9.0

Drank on last day of crab season. 4/5/2019 — 7 years ago

Daniel McGeough

9.4

Have with Cajun soft shell 🐚 🦀 crab!! 🤯 — 8 years ago

Alyse Thomas

9.6

Always my go too when I'm having crab stuffed salmon 😋 — 9 years ago

Sean Burke

9.1

Dry white at Joe’s stone crab! Loved! — 5 months ago

Mary Cosgrove

9.5

Billys stone crab - nice fruity but not too overly sweet — 2 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.2

2021. Young and super crisp. Paired great with a crab cake with endive salad and poached lobster with shaved fennel and fingerling potatoes. — 3 years ago

with joe, Aditya and 3 others

Amanda Loughlin

9.0

Amazing. Hints of gravel and umami. Great with picnic. — 5 years ago

Amaryllis Knight

9.8

@Vespertine
Drank it with crab and egg yolk — 7 years ago

with Chapman

Natalie Griffin

9.6

Unbelievably delicious! I just want to drink it by itself to taste all of the flavors: guava, pineapple, Fuji apples, some oak. Maybe the best Chardonnay I've ever had. This would also be good with meyer lemon/crab pasta. But, my taste buds don't want to share. — 9 years ago

Daniel McGeough

9.0

With unit and crab noodles!! — 10 years ago

Billy L.

9.6

Excellent w/Alaskan King Crab Cheers Happy New Year! 🍾👍🏻👏🏻 — 2 years ago

Dan Michael

9.2

Outstanding white wine! Lovely aromas, balanced and refreshing, the Semillon adds great dimension. Perfect with our Spring Pea and Crab Salad. Seek this one out for sure. — 3 years ago

Drew Summers

Sales Northampton Wines

9.2

Crab Leg Companion. — 4 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.3

2018 vintage.
Grapes are harvested from 6 AVAs .
Perfumed nose with flavours of blueberries, strawberries, tea and violets.
Raspberries, red plums, baking spice, brown sugar and leather with velvety tannins.
This wine spends 10 months in French oak at 23 % new.
We had kimchi and whole crab nabe (Japanese hot pot) with homemade gyoza.
Love it!! — 5 years ago

Carol

9.0

Fun with L&J with crab cakes — 6 years ago

Michael Seely

9.1

Great acidity. Perfect with crab — 8 years ago

with Jeff and Joe

Isik Tezel

8.9

Extremely dry w a crab apple finish. Delicious! — 9 years ago