# Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Chardonnay (2025)

- **Producer:** Au Bon Climat
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €25
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apple, pear, lemon, blossom, butter, toast, vanilla

## About this wine

Founded in 1982 by the legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen, Au Bon Climat established Santa Barbara County as a world-class region for Burgundian grape varieties. Clendenen consistently favored restraint, natural acidity, and refined barrel aging over overly ripe, heavy styles. Today, the winery continues its iconic legacy under the leadership of Jim's children, Isabelle and Knox Clendenen, along with long-serving winemaking lead Enrique Rodriguez.

## Interesting facts

- Founder Jim Clendenen was famously known in the wine world as 'The Mind Behind' Au Bon Climat.
- Au Bon Climat resisted the 1990s trend of heavy, buttery California Chardonnays, remaining devoted to Burgundian freshness.
- Fruit is sourced from old vines averaging over 25 years in age across premier Santa Barbara vineyards.

## Food pairing

The vibrant acidity of cool-climate Chardonnay cuts through rich textures, while the creaminess from malolactic fermentation and subtle French oak barrel notes seamlessly mirror buttery seafood, roasted meats, and creamy pasta sauces.

## Wine making process

Fruit is hand-harvested from historic cool-climate sites including Bien Nacido, Rancho Vinedo, and Los Alamos Vineyard. Whole-cluster pressing precedes barrel fermentation with natural yeasts in French oak barrels. The wine undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation and ages sur lie for 8 to 10 months in neutral to subtly toasted François Frères barrels.