Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County
オー・ボン・クリマ シャルドネ サンタバーバラ・カウンティ
Au Bon Climat
Chardonnay
About this wine
Au Bon Climat's flagship, entry-tier Chardonnay draws on three well-farmed Santa Barbara County sites — Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, and the estate Le Bon Climat vineyard. Grapes are whole-cluster pressed, settled, and barrel-fermented in relatively neutral François Frères French oak, then aged sur lie for about 10 months with malolactic fermentation completed. The result is a full-bodied, dry white with mouth-filling citrus and orchard fruit, flinty/stony minerality, and a background spice note from lees aging, built to gain richness and complexity with a few years of bottle age. It remains the most widely available introduction to Jim Clendenen's Burgundian-inspired winemaking.
The easiest, most accessible way to taste Au Bon Climat's Burgundian-style Chardonnay.
Sommelier's Note
"This is the wine that proves Santa Barbara Chardonnay doesn't need to shout to be serious — restrained oak, real minerality, and Burgundian structure at a fraction of the price of white Burgundy."
Food Pairings
Excellent with grilled halibut, seared scallops, or lobster with drawn butter; also pairs beautifully with roast chicken, mushroom risotto, or creamy pasta. Goat cheese salads and fresh oysters highlight its minerality.
When to drink it
Everyday fine dining, seafood dinners, casual gatherings with wine-curious friends
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Style
- White
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
- Price Range
- $25-35 (US retail; reference conversion, not an official JP price)
Terroir & Winemaking
Whole-cluster pressed, cool-settled juice, barrel-fermented in relatively neutral François Frères French oak. Aged sur lie approximately 10 months; completes malolactic fermentation. Sourced from Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, and estate Le Bon Climat vineyards.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County taste like?
- Green apple, pear, and lemon zest aromas layer with hazelnut and brioche notes, while the palate is medium- to full-bodied with bright acidity, citrus, orchard fruit, and a stony, flinty minerality supported by gentle oak.
- Is this Chardonnay oaked or unoaked?
- It is barrel-fermented in relatively neutral François Frères French oak and aged sur lie for about 10 months, so oak influence is present but restrained rather than dominant.
- What food pairs well with this wine?
- Grilled or roasted seafood (halibut, scallops, lobster), roast chicken, mushroom risotto, and creamy pasta all pair well; its minerality also flatters oysters and goat cheese.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
オー・ボン・クリマ イザベル・ピノ・ノワール
Au Bon Climat Isabelle Pinot Noir
RedPinot Noir
Isabelle is the flagship cuvée of Au Bon Climat, created in 1995 to celebrate the birth of winemaker Jim Clendenen's daughter. Rather than a single-vineyard wine, Isabelle is a meticulous multi-vineyard blend assembled from the finest barrels across at least six prestigious sites — from Bien Nacido and Sanford & Benedict in Santa Barbara County to parcels as far north as the Russian River Valley. Small lots are fermented separately in open-top vessels, punched down by hand, and transferred by gravity only; they are then aged 22–24 months in 100% new François Frères French oak. The result is Au Bon Climat's most powerful and complex Pinot Noir: layers of ripe red and dark cherry, forest floor, and toasted spice framed by silky tannins and vivid acidity, with the structure to evolve gracefully for 10–15 years. Wine Enthusiast awarded the 2017 vintage 96 points and the 2020 vintage 95 points.
オー・ボン・クリマ ピノ・ノワール サンタバーバラ・カウンティ
Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
RedPinot Noir
Au Bon Climat's entry-tier, flagship Pinot Noir is a handcrafted blend from premier Santa Maria Valley sites — chiefly Bien Nacido, North Canyon, and Rancho Real — with smaller portions from Kick On and Los Alamos vineyards. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented in small open-top lots with daily manual punch-downs, then aged 8-12 months in François Frères French oak. The result is a cool-climate, Burgundian-leaning Pinot Noir with red currant, blueberry, and blood orange aromas, subtle bay leaf, white pepper, and wet stone notes, balanced acidity, and a silky, well-structured palate at a moderate 13.5% ABV.
オー・ボン・クリマ シャルドネ ニュイ・ブランシュ・オ・ブージュ
Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches au Bouge
WhiteChardonnay
First produced in 1996, Nuits-Blanches au Bouge ("sleepless nights") is Au Bon Climat's top-tier Chardonnay, created by winemaker Jim Clendenen to showcase the extraordinary quality of the Bien Nacido Vineyard's 'K' Block. The blend is traditionally about 85-90% Bien Nacido Chardonnay with 10-15% from the estate Le Bon Climat vineyard. Grapes are picked later and sorted more rigorously than for any other Au Bon Climat Chardonnay, fermented and aged entirely in new French oak for around 18 months. The style is richer, oakier, and more concentrated than the winery's other Chardonnays, showing ripe stone fruit, caramelized lemon, chalky minerality, and toasted spice, with the structure for extended aging. Certain vintages released in Japan have carried special local nicknames (e.g. the 2019 vintage was named '独歩,' Dokuho, in tribute to Japanese fans).