2018 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | Californie |
| Appellation | Santa Barbara County |
| Winery | Au Bon Climat |
| Year | 2018 |
| Grape | Chardonnay |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (13.5%) |
| Drink window | 2022 - 2030 |
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.
The brain behind the Au Bon Climat winery is Jim Clendenen. He was born in Akron, Ohio and graduated in law from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1976. During his studies he had his "junior year abroad" in 1974 in France where he discovered that life was more than just tacos. After graduation, he spent both a month in Burgundy and Champagne, which convinced him to pursue a career in wine rather than pursuing a law degree. During the 1978 harvest, Jim Clendenen was an assistant winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery. He stayed there for 3 years and gained a great wealth of experience. In 1982 Clendenen, together with Adam Tolmach, decided to establish a winery with only Burgundian varieties of rented plots. In 1990 Adam left again and Jim took the helm solo. Through careful reinvestment from its own production, Au Bon Climat (meaning "a well-exposed vineyard") has grown to over 50,000 crates per year.
Au Bon Climat collects grapes from several vineyards on the California Central Coast, particularly Santa Barbara County, all of which are highly regarded. These include Clendenen's very own Le Bon Climat Vineyard and also grapes from the legendary Bien Nacido vineyard - both in Santa Maria Valley. Also grapes from Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, Los Alamos Vineyard (Santa Barbara County) and Talley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County.
The winery has built an international reputation with its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Jim Clendenen, as they call it the "Mind Behind" Au Bon Climat, is recognized worldwide for its classically styled wines. In 1989 and 1990, Au Bon Climat was on Robert Parker's shortlist of Best Wineries in the World and in 1991 was selected by Oz Clark as one of the 50 global creators of Modern Classic Wines. Dan Berger of the Los Angeles Times named Clendenen "Los Angeles Time Winemaker of the Year" in 1992; Food & Wine Magazine named him "Winemaker of the Year" in 2001. Germany's leading wine magazine Wein Gourmet named Clendenen "Winemaker of the World;" and in 2007 Jim was inducted into the James Beard Foundation's "Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America." There are many accolades, but Jim does not rest on his laurels. He is constantly looking to refine his profession and therefore leads the pack.
Au Bon Climat wines order online at Grand Cru wines
You can of course buy Au Bon Climat wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine trade with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium, where you can order both special wines and wines for every budget. Quality products, fast delivery & reliable service that is Grand Crus!
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | Californie |
| Appellation | Santa Barbara County |
| Winery | Au Bon Climat |
| Grape | Chardonnay |
| Biological certified | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Year | 2018 |
| Drinking as of | 2022 |
| Drinking till | 2030 |
| Alcohol % | 13.5 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Dry, Aged on wood, Powerful, Rich, Round, Full, White fruit |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
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