2021 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (13.5%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2034 |
In stock
8 items available
Description
AVAILABLE ON DECEMBER 6, 2024 FOR THE FIRST TIME
Au Bon Climat's tagline is "An homage to the wines of Burgundy" and that sums it up nicely. This wine comes from the Historic Vineyard collection. This collection originally represented five iconic vineyards that were instrumental in increasing the recognition of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Central Coast. Today, ABC's Historic Collection includes wines from the Los Alamos, Bien Nacido, Talley and Sanford & Benedict vineyards. These established vineyards allow us to make wines of great intensity and character. As the official exclusive importer of Au Bon Climat, we naturally carry these wines.
Tasting notes
The Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard is characterized by a remarkable purity. Enjoy the first aroma of wet limestone, which seamlessly changes into refined notes of white peach, ice cream and lime. This Chardonnay has a rounded structure and persistent tropical notes.
Winemaker's Notes
The Los Alamos vineyard covers approximately 500 planted acres, most of which is located on the flatlands of the Los Alamos Valley, nestled between the warmer Santa Ynez Valley and the cooler Santa Maria Valley. The best grapes from this vineyard grow in the north, on the gentle slopes of the Solomon Hills. On this hilltop, wind and shallow soils make for low yields, and the grapes struggle to ripen. Despite this challenge, the small crop ripens early. The grapes are harvested by hand, pressed whole, and barreled. The wine is aged for 16 months on the lees in French François Frères oak barrels, 33% of which are new.
Background story
Au Bon Climat and the Los Alamos vineyard share a long history. Au Bon Climat's first winery was a small barn on the Los Alamos vineyard property in 1982. Since then, the vineyard has changed hands several times, with Au Bon Climat moving from the property in 1989. Most of the owners of Los Alamos were interested in farming cheaply and growing high yields, which was less appealing to Au Bon Climat. In 2004, the care of this vineyard was "turned over" to Tavo Acosta, a new generation of wine growers in the Santa Maria region, who are driven to grow the best grapes for the best wines. This new approach is more intensive and expensive than previous methods, but the difference in quality is significant. The improvements at the Los Alamos vineyard continue and remain an important part of the Au Bon Climat portfolio.
FACT: In the tab 'Attachments' you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send you this when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will often also receive a nice discount . You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht almost next to the A16 with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
Specifications
| 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 |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| Vinous rating | 96 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Rijk, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95+
Reviewed by:
Erin Brooks
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2025 - 2040
The 2021 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Historic Vineyards Collection is fragrant and alluring, with tones of matchstick giving way to perfumed quince, beeswax and cashew. The palate is bursting with perfumed fruit, its expansive layers streaked with flint and honey. It has a vibrant acidity, a silky texture and a long, layered finish.
Published: Dec 29, 2023
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Wine Spectator
No written review available.
Vinous
95
Drinking Window
2024 - 2031
From: Santa Barbara: California's Undiscovered Jewel (Aug 2024)
The 2021 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection is deep, creamy and layered. Apricot, mint, tangerine oil, passion fruit and a kiss of French oak all meld together. This is an exuberant style for S&B, with tons of fruit density and pure power that captures the late Jim Clendenen's approach to the maximum.
- By Antonio Galloni on July 2024
Jim Clendenen passed away in early 2021, but his style is very much alive at Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vintners. Élevage for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is on the longer side relative to present-day standards. New oak is often in the 75-100% range, although increasingly, the preference leans toward 350-liter barrels. As usual, the Pinots are done with a high percentage of whole clusters. These wines continue to represent classicism in Santa Barbara. Clendenen succeeded in achieving that most elusive of elements in wine: balance. It’s great to see these wines showing so well.
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Wijnhuis
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!
AVAILABLE ON DECEMBER 6, 2024 FOR THE FIRST TIME
Au Bon Climat's tagline is "An homage to the wines of Burgundy" and that sums it up nicely. This wine comes from the Historic Vineyard collection. This collection originally represented five iconic vineyards that were instrumental in increasing the recognition of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Central Coast. Today, ABC's Historic Collection includes wines from the Los Alamos, Bien Nacido, Talley and Sanford & Benedict vineyards. These established vineyards allow us to make wines of great intensity and character. As the official exclusive importer of Au Bon Climat, we naturally carry these wines.
Tasting notes
The Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard is characterized by a remarkable purity. Enjoy the first aroma of wet limestone, which seamlessly changes into refined notes of white peach, ice cream and lime. This Chardonnay has a rounded structure and persistent tropical notes.
Winemaker's Notes
The Los Alamos vineyard covers approximately 500 planted acres, most of which is located on the flatlands of the Los Alamos Valley, nestled between the warmer Santa Ynez Valley and the cooler Santa Maria Valley. The best grapes from this vineyard grow in the north, on the gentle slopes of the Solomon Hills. On this hilltop, wind and shallow soils make for low yields, and the grapes struggle to ripen. Despite this challenge, the small crop ripens early. The grapes are harvested by hand, pressed whole, and barreled. The wine is aged for 16 months on the lees in French François Frères oak barrels, 33% of which are new.
Background story
Au Bon Climat and the Los Alamos vineyard share a long history. Au Bon Climat's first winery was a small barn on the Los Alamos vineyard property in 1982. Since then, the vineyard has changed hands several times, with Au Bon Climat moving from the property in 1989. Most of the owners of Los Alamos were interested in farming cheaply and growing high yields, which was less appealing to Au Bon Climat. In 2004, the care of this vineyard was "turned over" to Tavo Acosta, a new generation of wine growers in the Santa Maria region, who are driven to grow the best grapes for the best wines. This new approach is more intensive and expensive than previous methods, but the difference in quality is significant. The improvements at the Los Alamos vineyard continue and remain an important part of the Au Bon Climat portfolio.
FACT: In the tab 'Attachments' you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send you this when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will often also receive a nice discount . You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht almost next to the A16 with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
| 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 |
| Parker rating | 96 |
| Vinous rating | 96 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Rijk, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95+
Reviewed by:
Erin Brooks
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2025 - 2040
The 2021 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Historic Vineyards Collection is fragrant and alluring, with tones of matchstick giving way to perfumed quince, beeswax and cashew. The palate is bursting with perfumed fruit, its expansive layers streaked with flint and honey. It has a vibrant acidity, a silky texture and a long, layered finish.
Published: Dec 29, 2023
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Wine Spectator
No written review available.
Vinous
95
Drinking Window
2024 - 2031
From: Santa Barbara: California's Undiscovered Jewel (Aug 2024)
The 2021 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection is deep, creamy and layered. Apricot, mint, tangerine oil, passion fruit and a kiss of French oak all meld together. This is an exuberant style for S&B, with tons of fruit density and pure power that captures the late Jim Clendenen's approach to the maximum.
- By Antonio Galloni on July 2024
Jim Clendenen passed away in early 2021, but his style is very much alive at Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vintners. Élevage for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is on the longer side relative to present-day standards. New oak is often in the 75-100% range, although increasingly, the preference leans toward 350-liter barrels. As usual, the Pinots are done with a high percentage of whole clusters. These wines continue to represent classicism in Santa Barbara. Clendenen succeeded in achieving that most elusive of elements in wine: balance. It’s great to see these wines showing so well.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
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!