Au Bon Climat Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2023 750ml

Superfresh aromas of lime blossom, lemongrass, Asian pear and lychee pop on the nose of this bottling. There is intense tension on the palate, where fresh orange blossom, crisp white fleshed fruits and hints of jasmine and tropical flowers ride into the tightly woven finish.

From an exceedingly cool vineyard site, this chardonnay is all structure at present, brooding and turned in on itself, driven by floating lees and linear oak, beneath which modest fruit and a teeming citrusy acidity roils. It’s the movement in the wine, independent of unresolved flavors, that assures me of the wine’s potential. For the cellar.

The light gold-hued 2019 Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard comes all from the Los Alamos Vineyard in Santa Maria and was brought up in 50% new French oak. It's a great value as well as an introduction into the style of this estate. Toasted spices, nuts, white flowers, and more stone fruits all emerge from the glass, and it's medium-bodied, with a layered, nicely textured mouthfeel, bright acidity, and a clean finish.