Au Bon Climat 'Wild Boy' Chardonnay Santa Barbara 2022

Description

Founded in 1982, Au Bon Climat (which means "a well-exposed vineyard") produces internationally-recognized Pinot Noir & Chardonnay from grapes grown in California's Santa Barbara County. Located at the foot of one of California's most rated vineyards, Bien Nacido in the Santa Maria Valley, one of the finest sites in California, ideal for the production of the refined, Burgundian style of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to which Jim so aspires, ABC, as it is more commonly referred to, has won universal acclaim for its wines thanks to the late Jim 'Wild Boy' Clendenen, its winemaker & owner. Jim regarded Burgundy as the benchmark to which he should aspire and bought clones of Pinot Noir from Burgundy in a bid to replicate as closely as possible the restraint and finesse of the wines from that region. Jim eschewed a career in law for the lure of the vine following a month's stay in Burgundy & Champagne when he was 21. He never looked back, although he was frequently to be found darkening the doors along the stretch of the Cote d'Or. Unsurprisingly his wines combine the minerally precision & grace of Burgundy with the flair of the West Coast.

This is the entry level Chardonnay from Santa Barbara winery Au Bon Climat. Once you get past the somewhat novel label this is a lovely wine with clear Burgundian influences. Crisp, fresh and lightly oaked with classic notes of citrus and stone fruit.