Reviews & Ratings

2020 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay "Sanford & Benedict Vineyard"

Winery: Au Bon Climat

Vintage: 2020

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Sanford & Benedict Vineyard"

Wine Category: Chardonnay

Grape blend: 100% Chardonnay

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Santa Rita Hills

State or country: CA

Price: $40

Cases produced: 500

KWG Score: 95.7 (based on 4 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (95)

Review date: May 29, 2023

Wine Review: This white gold and translucent Chardonnay from the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is Excellent! It opens with a pineapple and oak bouquet with hints of matchstick and white tea. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with medium plus acidity. It is also nicely balanced, round and nicely coats your mouth. The flavor profile is a very tasty grilled pineapple, green apple, and spice blend with notes of butter and oak. I also detected some hints of nutmeg, saline and toasted almond. The finish is dry and its flavors glide away nicely. Au Bon Climat hit a home run with this impressive and delicious Chard. It paired perfectly with Lucia’s Pollo e Zucca di Zucca aka sauteed chicken with butternut squash ravioli simmered in a parmesan cheese, and chiffonade fresh sage cream sauce. Enjoy – Ken

Winemaker Notes: Exceptional. Spiced orchard fruits, citrus, brioche, and toasty oak as well as hints of nuttiness all emerge. The palate grips with crushed rock minerality giving frame to the stone fruit and citrus flavors. Medium-bodied and well structured, it has bright acidity and a clean, vibrant, pure style that's going to gain richness and depth with a year or two of bottle age and keep for a decade.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Au Bon Climat 2020 Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay.