2019 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay K Block Bien Nacido Vineyard

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Description

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The Chardonnay "K Block" Bien Nacido Vineyard is a wine from the Blue Series of Au Bon Climat. Blue series wines are the wines they like to show and are most proud of. The K Block" Bien Nacido is in one word - impressive. It is a rich, full, lush Chardonnay that shows muscle, but is super balanced. The acidity and fine structure keep the wine balanced and very elegant. Notes of oak blend nicely with baked apple, pear and candied lemon, which makes for a balanced aromas of butterscotch, hazelnut and toasted oak vanilla in the background. The texture and fruitiness are perfectly balanced with a bright acidity and a finish that tends towards classic notes of maple wood.

The Bien Nacido "K Block" Chardonnay comes from the vineyard's original 1973 Chardonnay plantings. The old vines give the wine a distinctive depth and balance. The grapes are harvested early to maintain freshness and are hand-picked and pressed whole to minimize tannin extraction. While we use Bien Nacido fruit in blends and other single-vineyard wines, this wine stands out for its unique style.

Adding complexity to the wine is the new 350-litre French oak barrels from François Frères, in which the wine is aged for 24 months. The wine is bottled unfiltered to ensure its purity. Discovered by Jim Clendenen during a Burgundian trip in 2013, these barrels play a crucial role with their subtle but influential wood character, which is perfectly matched by extended sur lie maturation. The larger barrels enhance the wine’s liveliness, while the extended contact with the wood contributes to its rich texture. The historic vines and expressive freshness of Bien Nacido make for a refined and powerful wine, which more than lives up to its status as a single-block selection.

With decades of experience, Au Bon Climat has turned the craft of Bien Nacido Chardonnay into an art. Through carefully selected vineyards, such as the exceptional K Block, a powerful yet balanced wine is created with creamy textures and a classic style.

The Chardonnay from the original 1973 plantings in K Block offers a wine with deep flavors and perfect balance. Thanks to an early harvest and a unique 24-month maturation in specially selected Burgundian barrels, this wine offers a lively, elegant experience. Ideal to pair with rich dishes such as lemon pepper carbonara, duck breast with citrus glaze, or pan-fried sea bass with a lemon and caper sauce.

About the Blue Series from Au Bon Climat

Blue Series wines are the wines they like to show and are most proud of. They are all made from the best cuvées from impressive vineyards and get the highest percentage of new French oak. Traditionally, the Blue Series includes a Chardonnay, "Nuits Blanche", a White Blend "Hildegard" and two Pinot Noirs, "Isabelle" and "Knox Alexander". The Blue Series also includes special bottlings such as "Larmes de Grappe" and Anniversary wines. As the official exclusive importer of Au Bon Climat, we of course carry these wines.

FACT: In the Tab: Attachment you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose Pick up in Checkout page. We are located almost next to the Rijksweg with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.  

Specifications

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Packing information Box
Type of Wine White
Country USA
Region Californie
Appellation Santa Barbara County
Winery Au Bon Climat
Grape Chardonnay
Biological certified No
Natural wine No
Vegan No
Vintage 2021
Drinking as of 2024
Drinking till 2034
Alcohol % 13.5
Alcohol free/low No
Content 0.75 ltr
Oak aging Yes
Sparkling No
Dessert wine No
Closure Cork
Vinous rating 94
Tasting Profiles Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Rijk, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit
Drink moments Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard

Professional Reviews

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Wine Spectator

94

No written review available.

Vinous

94

Wijnhuis

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Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat is known for its refined wines from Santa Barbara County.

The history of Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat was founded in 1982 with a clear mission: to produce classic, Burgundy-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County. The region is ideal thanks to the influence of the cool Pacific air, marine soils, and the east–west oriented valleys.

Jim Clendenen, also known as “The Mind Behind” Au Bon Climat, set this vision and always stayed true to it. While trends in California came and went, Au Bon Climat continued to focus on traditional, site-specific, and nuanced wines.

Location and climate of Santa Barbara County

The location of Santa Barbara County creates a unique microclimate with a combination of warm days and cool nights. This allows grapes to ripen slowly and develop deep, complex flavors. Vineyards such as Bien Nacido, Le Bon Climat, and Rancho La Cuna are among the most renowned in the region.

The different wines of Au Bon Climat

The winery has gained international fame with its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris. By combining traditional methods such as whole cluster pressing, aging in French oak barrels, and extended barrel maturation, the wines achieve exceptional balance and elegance.

The vineyards of Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat sources grapes from several prestigious vineyards, including:

  • Bien Nacido Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley): 900 acres, calcareous clay soil, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
  • Le Bon Climat Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley): 52 acres, sandy loam soil, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier.
  • Rancho La Cuna (Santa Barbara County): 20 acres, sandy loam and shale clay, Syrah, Grenache, Chenin Blanc.
  • Sanford & Benedict (Sta. Rita Hills): 51 acres, calcareous clay soil, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
  • Talley Vineyards (Arroyo Grande Valley): 28 acres, shale clay soil, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Why choose wines from Au Bon Climat?

These wines are praised worldwide for their balance, structure, and long aging potential. Jim Clendenen’s legacy lives on through the high quality and dedication to traditional winemaking techniques.

Order Au Bon Climat wines online?

You can of course buy Au Bon Climat wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine merchant with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium. Our wines are stored in a climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and when you choose to pick up your order, you often receive a nice discount. The discount is shown immediately when you select ‘Pick up’ on the checkout page.

Attachments

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