2022 Au Bon Climat, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, California, USA

100% Chardonnay

Santa Barbara County's climate and terroir allow Au Bon Climat to consistently make balanced and lively Chardonnays year after year. Our 2022 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is from five well-farmed vineyards: Bien Nacido Vineyard, Los Alamos Vineyard, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and Premier Coastal Vineyard. Throughout September, the fruit is carefully handpicked and sorted in the vineyard.

After harvesting, the grapes are whole cluster pressed, and juice is quickly settled, chilled, and put into a barrel. Barrel fermentation and malolactic fermentation are completed. The following summer, the lots are blended, and wine is bottled. For eight months, surface barrel ageing in neutral François Frères barrels provides an intriguing spice note of clove and nutmeg. The wine industry will continue developing and increasing complexity over the next decade.

Winemaker notes