Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Chardonnay

Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is a Burgundian-inspired 100% Chardonnay from California's Central Coast, bottled at 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2023 vintage earned 91 points from Norm Roby at Wine Review Online, reinforcing this bottling's reputation as one of Santa Barbara County's most reliably excellent value-driven whites.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Santa Barbara County, California  |  Style: Burgundian-Method Chardonnay  |  Producer: Au Bon Climat Winery

Production & Heritage

Au Bon Climat was founded in 1982 by the late Jim Clendenen, a winemaker who studied in Burgundy and spent decades championing restrained, Old World-style Chardonnay in a region better known for riper, oak-heavy expressions. The Santa Barbara County bottling draws fruit from multiple acclaimed vineyards including Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and Premier Coastal Vineyard, all planted with Burgundian clones sourced directly from France. Grapes are whole-cluster pressed, then barrel-fermented and taken through full malolactic fermentation in somewhat neutral François Frères French oak barrels, where the wine ages sur lie for approximately eight months. Fruit is hand-picked at relatively modest sugar levels, keeping alcohol in check and promoting a structured, slow-aging wine rather than a fruit-forward showpiece.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Flinty, stony minerality leads, followed by fresh green apple and bright citrus. A subtle background of clove and nutmeg emerges from the extended lees contact and barrel aging.

Taste: The palate opens with crisp apple and lemon-lime acidity, immediately signaling freshness over richness. At mid-palate, soft vanilla and gentle spice from the French oak add dimension without dominating the fruit. The overall impression is bright, balanced, and layered — more Côte de Beaune than Napa Valley.

Finish: Long and refreshing, driven by excellent acidity and a lingering lemon-lime zest note. A trace of stony minerality carries through to the very end, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Au Bon Climat Chardonnay

This Chardonnay shows its full complexity slightly below room temperature — around 50–55°F. It rewards patient sipping on its own, and a few minutes in the glass allow the flinty, spiced aromas to fully develop.

While primarily a food wine, it also performs well in wine-forward cocktails: a White Wine Spritzer highlights its citrus brightness; a French 75 variation using this wine in place of sparkling adds body and minerality to the classic template; and a Kir made with a small measure of crème de cassis pairs beautifully with the wine's natural acidity and stone-fruit undertones.

Best For

• Introducing a Burgundy lover to restrained California Chardonnay
• Pairing with seafood or roasted poultry at a dinner party
• Gifting to a wine enthusiast who values winemaking philosophy over flashy labels
• Building a cellar of age-worthy, food-friendly white wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Au Bon Climat Chardonnay taste like? It leads with crisp green apple, lemon-lime zest, and flinty minerality, supported by subtle clove, nutmeg, and soft vanilla from French oak aging. The overall profile is bright, lean, and structured rather than buttery or heavily oaked.

How does Au Bon Climat Chardonnay compare to Kosta Browne Chardonnay? Both producers draw from premium Santa Barbara County vineyards, but Au Bon Climat leans decisively toward a leaner, Burgundian model with neutral oak and lower alcohol, while Kosta Browne generally delivers richer, more opulent fruit concentration at a significantly higher price point. Au Bon Climat's approach prioritizes minerality and acidity over power.

Is Au Bon Climat Chardonnay good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its layered minerality, balanced acidity, and restrained oak make it a compelling wine to drink on its own, especially served lightly chilled around 50–55°F.

Where is Au Bon Climat Chardonnay made? Au Bon Climat Winery is located in Santa Barbara County on California's Central Coast, with fruit sourced from multiple vineyards in the region including the renowned Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley.

What foods pair well with Au Bon Climat Chardonnay? Roasted chicken with herbs benefits from the wine's acidity and subtle spice. Grilled halibut or sea bass matches the flinty minerality. A classic lobster bisque finds balance against the bright citrus notes. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese echoes the nutty, lees-driven complexity. A simple salad of shaved fennel and citrus mirrors the wine's freshness.

What sizes does Au Bon Climat Chardonnay come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle.

Is Au Bon Climat Chardonnay worth the price? Au Bon Climat positions as a remarkable value within the premium Chardonnay category, delivering Burgundian winemaking techniques — whole-cluster pressing, François Frères barrels, extended sur lie aging — at a fraction of what comparable Burgundy or top-tier California Chardonnays command.

Why Au Bon Climat Chardonnay?

In a California Chardonnay landscape still crowded with heavily oaked, high-alcohol bottlings, Au Bon Climat stands as one of the original counterarguments. Jim Clendenen's Burgundian training and four decades of commitment to restraint produced a house style that has outlasted trends — whole-cluster pressing, neutral François Frères oak, sur lie aging, and grapes picked for acidity rather than sugar. The multi-vineyard Santa Barbara County blend, anchored by fruit from Bien Nacido and other top sites, consistently delivers complexity that punches well above its price tier, as reflected in its 91-point score from Wine Review Online for the 2023 vintage. For anyone seeking structured, mineral-driven Chardonnay rooted in Old World discipline and Central Coast terroir, this remains one of California's most dependable bottles.