2018 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

Au Bon Climat has the slogan: "An homage to the wines of Burgundy" and this sums it all up nicely. The Chardonnay from Sanford & Benedict Vineyard are among the top models of Au Bon Climat

This is a chardonnay with an intelligent and perfectly dosed wood aging. The winemaker Jim Clendenen is a prodigious and highly sensitive winemaker who is especially known worldwide for his work on terroir identification in California, for the planting of pinot noir and chardonnay. The man carried out groundbreaking historical research into Burgundy from the 'pre-chardonnay' era, when white Bourgognes were made from pinot gris, pinot blanc and aligoté. His wines are an ode to minerals, have an exceptional depth and are of an absolute world class.

The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay is a terroir driven wine. The vineyard and region has the climate and terroir to make balanced and vibrant wines. This wine continues to evolve from delicious and fresh on release to a richer, more complex wine with age. The Chardonnay grapes are carefully picked by hand and sorted in the vineyard. After harvesting, the grapes are pressed in whole bunches and the juice is quickly settled and cooled to start the barrel fermentation. The wine is dry and completed malo-lactic fermentation and matures for about a year in oak barrel.

The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay is a wonderful example of the Au Bon Climat style. The fiery, stony aromas stand out, while a hard spicy note from the aged barrel maturation can be heard in the background. There are notes of lime-lime and soft vanilla. At the first taste it is irresistible. At a young age, this wine goes perfectly with shellfish or poultry. It will improve for at least 10 years and as it evolves give this one a try with a risotto funghi and be amazed. Sanford and Benedict wines age particularly well and will be rich, integrated and delicious with age.