Au Bon Climat
Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Ynez Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
Soft and rich with more butter and less fruit. I think it’s starting to go down hill.
Soft and rich with more butter and less fruit. I think it’s starting to go down hill.
Apr 30th, 2025
Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com
Pop and pour yesterday. Yesterday, this was Cali chard in the style I am less fond of: big, buttery and slightly over the top (a far cry from the '17 we tasted at the winery); however, it was absolutely NOT flabby on the palate: with precise acidity and nice mouthfeel. Let this sit in the fridge overnight and this is an altogether different beast. Today: on the nose, still ripe, but loads of nice complexity shines through. Ripe citrus, stony minerality, soft mint notes, yum. On the palate: still fantastic cut, with laserlike acidity, balanced by serious richness. Some complex and lovely sweet citrus and wet stone follows the acid on a long, smooth finish. Yesterday, meh, today, stunning.
Pop and pour yesterday. Yesterday, this was Cali chard in the style I am less fond of: big, buttery and slightly over the top (a far cry from the '17 we tasted at the winery); however, it was absolutely NOT flabby on the palate: with precise acidity and nice mouthfeel. Let this sit in the fridge overnight and this is an altogether different beast. Today: on the nose, still ripe, but loads of nice complexity shines through. Ripe citrus, stony minerality, soft mint notes, yum. On the palate: still fantastic cut, with laserlike acidity, balanced by serious richness. Some complex and lovely sweet citrus and wet stone follows the acid on a long, smooth finish. Yesterday, meh, today, stunning.
1 person found it helpfulAug 18th, 2021
Fruity, nutty, minerality. This has a bit of everything in a very harmonious way. Judicial use of oak. Medium body with round vivid acidity and great texture. Elegant saline finish.
One of the best Chard I’ve tasted in the sub $40 price.
Fruity, nutty, minerality. This has a bit of everything in a very harmonious way. Judicial use of oak. Medium body with round vivid acidity and great texture. Elegant saline finish.
One of the best Chard I’ve tasted in the sub $40 price.
One of the best example of ripe style California Chardonnay I have ever had. It hits with a savory character of grilled pineapple, then gives away to a variety of ripe stone fruit, a roux of spiced oak and even further back, a crushed rock minerality that keeps the ensemble lifted and enticing. The pallet is even more surprising as it confirms the stone fruit, adds a touch of citrus and slaps you with tingling stony acidity that keeps going and going. The juxtaposition of opulence and lean elegance is outstanding. After drinking through some flabby 2018s recently, this is a smacking reminder of why I fell in love with Jim’s wines to begin with. Wow!!!!
One of the best example of ripe style California Chardonnay I have ever had. It hits with a savory character of grilled pineapple, then gives away to a variety of ripe stone fruit, a roux of spiced oak and even further back, a crushed rock minerality that keeps the ensemble lifted and enticing. The pallet is even more surprising as it confirms the stone fruit, adds a touch of citrus and slaps you with tingling stony acidity that keeps going and going. The juxtaposition of opulence and lean elegance is outstanding. After drinking through some flabby 2018s recently, this is a smacking reminder of why I fell in love with Jim’s wines to begin with. Wow!!!!
Jun 23rd, 2025
Smooth and not too oaked. Got in wine club shipment
Smooth and not too oaked. Got in wine club shipment
Jun 11th, 2022
Fab balanced US Chard w/ great QPR @ £27 recommended 👍
🍷 Light golden straw
👃 Mineralised ripe green fruit through a honeyed tropical mist w/ citrus rain drops
👄 Med+ creamy well balanced not overpowered refreshing smooth body of tropical & green plump fruits w/ soft low+ acidity citrus undertones
🎯 Med+ tropical green & citrus fruit sweet soft creamy slight dry linger
Fab balanced US Chard w/ great QPR @ £27 recommended 👍
🍷 Light golden straw
👃 Mineralised ripe green fruit through a honeyed tropical mist w/ citrus rain drops
👄 Med+ creamy well balanced not overpowered refreshing smooth body of tropical & green plump fruits w/ soft low+ acidity citrus undertones
🎯 Med+ tropical green & citrus fruit sweet soft creamy slight dry linger