Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Au Bon Climat — Chardonnay 2023
Santa Barbara County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A classic Santa Barbara County Chardonnay from Au Bon Climat, reflecting the restrained, balanced style that made Jim Clendenen’s wines such benchmarks for the region. This is Chardonnay without unnecessary theatrics: cool-climate freshness, measured richness, and an easygoing personality that still carries plenty of character.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh apple, pear, lemon, white peach, and citrus blossom, with subtle vanilla, mineral, and lightly toasted nuances adding complexity without dominating the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, fresh, and beautifully balanced. The acidity provides just the right amount of tension, while a subtle creamy texture rounds the palate. Clean, composed, and remarkably easy to enjoy.

Food Pairings
Grilled fish, roasted chicken, shrimp, crab cakes, creamy pasta, or simply enjoyed on its own.

Verdict
A solid representation of what Santa Barbara Chardonnay does so well. It has freshness without austerity, texture without heaviness, and enough complexity to remain interesting while being completely approachable. A terrific casual Chardonnay.

Did You Know?
Au Bon Climat was founded by Jim Clendenen in 1982 and became one of the defining producers of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County, favoring balance and restraint long before those qualities became fashionable in California.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is what I want a casual Santa Barbara Chardonnay to taste like. Affable, balanced, subtly textured, and carrying just enough tension to keep every sip fresh. Nothing overdone and nothing missing. It has officially earned a spot among my New World Chardonnay staples. — 3 minutes ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2021 vintage. First go-round with this wine. Winery produces “pretty” wines and this is no different. Medium-medium heavy bod. Consistent, smooth push with dried cranberry leading the charge. No heart-stopping or scary moments. Enjoyable. 3.13.26. — 6 months ago

Steve Mitchell

9.4

This Couer had plenty of “Heart” as promised by Hall.
Paired well with our steak, salad and twice baked potato. — 9 months ago

Jenks

9.0

Apparently this translates to “up all night” or something heeeeeyyyyy — 2 years ago

Eric I

9.2

Great wine to pair with an LSU loss — 3 years ago

Ola Lenin

9.3

Schoolbook pinot with warm strawberry and sloeberry fruit. Cranberries on the finish. Some oak and spices on the finish. Simply very enjoyable! — 4 years ago

Michael Bontà

9.5

Clear pale salmon. Medium + intensity on the nose with strawberry, blood orange, geranium leaf, pink grapefruit, tomato leaf, white peach. On the palate dry, medium + acidity, medium + intensity medium body, long finish and medium alcohol with notes of grapefruit, red cherry, grass, white peach and something plastic that I can't quite identify but isn't undesirable. Outstanding wine and fun to drink on its own without food. Creamy and sophisticated — 2 months ago

S.S. Mandani

9.1

Peppers, cherries, black pepper, star anise.

Tart cherry, light peppercorn, nice front palate tannins. A bit of earth. — 6 months ago

Ryan Colthorp

8.9

Big fruity nose. Dark purple hues. Big, but easy drinking. Plums. Cherries. Vanilla. — 6 months ago

Chip Habegger

9.1

Disgorged 2022. Tons of bruised green apple. Little brioche. Ends a little shorter than expected for the price point. — 8 months ago

Mike Evans

9.1

Still showing a lot of tannic and acidic structure, but enough fruit to keep it in check once it had a few hours of air, youthful still, and brawny. — 2 years ago

Gene Harlow

9.5

2019 blend and it is outstanding. This is a fun find and seriously good! Dark fruits with a great balance of oak. Elyse has really done well with this deep balanced red blend. — 3 years ago

Portia Apple

9.4

Delicious gamay! I only wish it were a little less sweet — 5 years ago

Amy

9.0

master the world — loved!! — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Elegant Cabernet with great character & depth. Would like to try it again in 5-8 yr.

Nice pairing of elegance with the Wagyu Short Ribs. — 4 months ago

Ana Bumgardner

9.0

2024 vintage on 3/15/26 at Sanaa (Indian food). Very good chard. — 6 months ago

S.S. Mandani

9.1

Perfumed red fruits.

Cherry, zippy structure, earthen, licorice, fennel. — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium deep garnet, ruby core with medium light garnet rim . This is quite meaty and deep on the nose , with earthy dark cherry , porcini , sweet blackberry and spiced sous bois . On the palate this is quite severe and serious , darker fruits , ripe blackberry , cherry and hint of blackcurrant, herbal hints. Quite gritty , slightly drying tannins , fresh acidity . Earthy , dusty dark cherry edged finish , ok medium length. Quite ambitious for a village and arguably not ready yet , tannins need a little more time to integrate. From now and over the next 5 years, if not longer . — a year ago

Michael Chelus

9.0

Apple, lemon candy, dried apricot, oak and hints of peach. Great acidity and balance. — 3 years ago

Ron R

8.9

Tasting at Domaine Serene. First white pinot I’ve tasted, and it’s nice. Needs food. — 5 years ago

with Andrew