When it comes to Rhône-style wines in California, Au Bon Climat stands out as a pioneer in cool climate viticulture. From their acclaimed Santa Barbara County vineyards, owners Jay and Kathryn Brundage craft a range of expressive, terroir-driven wines that showcase the potential of cool climate Syrah and Rhône varietals. In this article, we highlight the most notable wines from Au Bon Climat's portfolio, from their signature white blend to their robust reds, helping you discover why they're considered one of California's most influential Rhône wine producers.
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Reviews
This wine comes from Au Bon Climat, a respected California vineyard that's been producing top Pinot Noir since 1982. The Isabelle cuvée is the winery's flagship, made from their best grapes each year. Right now, it's rich and complex enough to enjoy, but it has even more potential to develop over time.
This Chardonnay comes from Au Bon Climat's coveted "K" block at the well-respected Bien Nacido vineyard in Santa Maria Valley. The specialized soil composition – with more gravel than bottomland blocks – helps maintain ideal grape vigor and low crop sizes.
Crafted from carefully selected vineyard sections in Santa Maria Valley, this Pinot Noir combines traditional California grapes with Dijon clone plantings. The resulting wine showcases vibrant red currant and Bing cherry flavors, enhanced by notes of violet, mossy bark, and wild thyme. Its medium-bodied structure and subtle herbal qualities make it an exceptional pairing for roasted chicken and fresh greens.
Au Bon Climat's Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay brings together refined flavors of cream corn and white peach with subtle notes of sautéed apple and flowers. Fermented in barrel and aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak, this Chardonnay showcases remarkable purity and structure that works beautifully with everything from simple fish dishes to more complex fare like mushrooms and game birds. The wine's mineral undertones and delicate balance make it a versatile choice that rewards both immediate enjoyment and cellaring.
This 2014 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County delivers a wonderful blend of strawberry, raspberry, anise, and clove flavors in a richly textured mouthfeel. The vintage has been particularly praised by the winemaker for its quality.
This elegant Santa Barbara County Chardonnay opens with complex aromas of stone fruits and oak, followed by subtle spice notes that add depth without overwhelming the palate. On the palate, it delivers exceptional balance between rich fruit flavors and fresh acidity, with a lingering finish that recalls lemon zest and citrus. The wine's subtle oak character adds complexity while maintaining a light, food-friendly profile that makes it perfect for pairing with everything from grilled chicken to seafood pasta dishes.
This rich California Chardonnay showcasescomplex apricot and caramel flavors complemented by subtle oak spice, while maintaining clean acidity and a lingering finish. The combination of Bien Nacido and Le Bon Climat estate fruit creates a beautifully balanced wine that pairs wonderfully with shellfish and white sauces. While initially intense, the wine's precision and focus make it both delicious now and rewarding for medium-term aging.
The Au Bon Climat Isabelle Pinot Noir is a standout from California's Santa Barbara region, where the climate and terroir perfectly complement this premium red blend. With rich flavors of mulberry and cherry underscored by complex spice and forest floor notes, this wine offers both immediate enjoyment and rewarding cellaring potential - think 10-15 years of aging. Whether enjoyed young or developed over time, it demonstrates why this Pinot Noir reserve is consistently the winery's top performer each vintage.
This Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir delivers easy-drinking pleasure with its well-balanced flavors of red berries and subtle spice notes. At just $25, it represents some of the best value in California pinot noir, pairing wonderfully with charcuterie and appetizers. While opinions vary, many enthusiasts rank it among their top picks for the price point.
A delightful white wine blend that combines the mineral-driven complexity of Pinot Blanc with the aromatic depth of Pinot Gris, offering fresh apple and melon flavors alongside subtle notes of lavender and marzipan. This versatile wine presents an elegant alternative to Chardonnay, delivering great value while showcasing the flavors of Santa Barbara's renowned wine country.
Au Bon Climat started making white wines like Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris in Santa Barbara County with the first vintage released in 1995. The winery grows these grapes on their Bien Nacido property, where experimental plantings led to the creation of their distinctive white wines. Each bottle contains 750 ml of premium white wine that requires proper storage and handling due to its delicate nature.
A complex white blend from Au Bon Climat's Santa Maria Valley, this wine combines 55% Pinot Gris, 40% Pinot Blanc, and 5% Aligote for a rich, oak-inflected character with notes of citrus, pear, and hazelnut. The barrel-fermented wine spends significant time in new French oak, adding layers of vanilla and spice to the melon- and pastry-like fruit flavors. It pairs beautifully with a wide range of foods and showcases the Burgundian influence of winemaker Jim Clendenen.
The slowly ripening Pinot Noir grapes give the final wine a distinctive character, while Au Bon Climat's careful sourcing from celebrated Central Coast vineyards ensures every bottle delivers exceptional quality. Since 1982, winemaker Clendenen has elevated these sites to new heights, making this limited edition release particularly noteworthy.
From the warm days and cool nights of Santa Barbara's Los Alamos vineyard comes this beautifully balanced Pinot Noir, where dense fruit flavors of cherries and plums give way to complex notes of spice and chocolate. This is Au Bon Climat's signature style – classic Burgundian elegance with a distinctly California twist – perfect for pairing with rich meats like duck, lamb, or venison.
Crafted from Santa Barbara County's ideal climate and terroir, this Au Bon Climat Chardonnay evolves from fresh and vibrant upon release to richer, more complex with age. The wine maintains consistent quality from the winery's first introduction many years ago, though a few customers have noted inconsistency in recent bottles. Overall, it delivers classic California chardonnay characteristics with oak and buttery notes that complement rich sauces like alfredo particularly well.
The Los Alamos Chardonnay from Au Bon Climat brings generous fruit flavors with tropical notes, supported by oak that's carefully measured. The richness you'd expect from the region is balanced by mineral elements and a persistent finish. It's drinking beautifully now but has the potential to develop complex character over the next two decades.
This Santa Barbara Pinot Noir showcases complex flavors of red cherry, orange peel, and smoked meats, with a refined structure of grainy tannins and vibrant fruit character. The wine achieves a delicate balance between Old-World elegance and New-World approachability, making it both approachable and memorable.
Buyer's Guide
Au Bon Climat is a renowned vineyard in the Santa Barbara County, California, known for its flagship wine, Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir. Understanding what makes this wine special and how to select the right vintage or style can enhance your enjoyment of their offerings.
Vineyard Practices and Sustainability
Au Bon Climat is committed to sustainable farming practices. Their vineyards are certified organically farmed, and they employ minimal intervention in winemaking to maintain the natural character of their grapes. When choosing wines from Au Bon Climat, look for bottles that highlight these sustainable farming methods, as they can significantly impact the wine's flavor profile and environmental footprint.
Varietal Selection: Pinot Noir and Beyond
The vineyard's most famous wine is their Pinot Noir, which exhibits complex flavors of red cherry, raspberry, and nuanced earthy notes specific to their coastal climate. For those new to their wines, starting with the Pinot Noir can help you understand their signature style. They also produce smaller quantities of other varietals including Chardonnay, Syrah, and Rhône-style blends, each reflecting their meticulous viticulture techniques.
Winemaking Approach
Au Bon Climat's winemaking philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention, allowing the inherent qualities of the grapes to shine through. This approach results in wines that maintain their regional character while offering excellent balance and complexity. When tasting their wines, note whether you detect characteristic earthy undertones, vibrant fruit flavors, and a seamless integration of oak aging (if applicable) - these are hallmarks of their winemaking style.
Pairing and Aging Potential
Due to their precise viticulture and careful winemaking, Au Bon Climat wines typically benefit from food pairing and aging. The Pinot Noir pairs exceptionally well with mushroom dishes, game meats, and rich poultry. More structured reds like the Syrah benefit from decanting and aging in the bottle for several years before their peak drinking window. Understanding these characteristics can help guide your selection based on your drinking preferences and the occasions you plan to enjoy the wine.
FAQ
What makes Au Bon Climat different from other wineries?
Au Bon Climat stands out for its commitment to sustainable farming and innovative winemaking techniques. The winery practices organic viticulture and biodynamic agriculture, minimizing environmental impact while maintaining high-quality standards.
The company's diverse portfolio includes both single-vineyard and blend wines, showcasing regional terroir through precise grape selection and fermentation methods that emphasize natural yeast and minimal intervention.
What grape varieties do they specialize in?
Au Bon Climat specializes in Rhône varietals, particularly Syrah, Viognier, and Marsanne. Their whites typically offernotes of stone fruit, citrus, and floral characters, while their reds showcase dark fruits, spice, and complex earthy undertones.
The winery also produces smaller quantities of indigenous Rhône varieties like Counoise and Grenache Gris, as well as limited releases featuring local Santa Barbara County grapes like Palomino and Roussanne.
What awards have their wines received?
Au Bon Climat's wines have consistently earned high accolades, including multiple gold medals and double gold ratings from respected wine competitions like the San Francisco International Wine Competition and Los Angeles International Wine Competition.
The winery has also received critical acclaim from notable publications and wine critics, with many releases scoring 90 points or higher, demonstrating their consistent quality and craftsmanship.
Are all their wines available in stores?
While Au Bon Climat makes its wines available through various distributors and directly through their website, availability can vary by location and market. Their single-vineyard wines, in particular, may be more difficult to find in retail stores.
The winery recommends visiting their online store or contacting local wine retailers to check availability of specific bottles. Direct purchasing options ensure freshness and authentic experience with their wines.
What food pairing suggestions do they offer?
Au Bon Climat recommends pairing their white wines with grilled seafood, poultry, and cheese plates. Their full-bodied reds complement grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and hearty stews, while also making excellent standalone decanters.
The winery provides detailed pairing guides on their website and often includes suggestions for seasonal dishes that complement their wine profiles, helping customers discover new favorite combinations.
How should I store their wines?
To maintain their quality, Au Bon Climat wines should be stored in a cool, dark place with consistent temperature between 50-60°F (10-15°C). Avoid direct sunlight and drastic temperature changes, which can affect the wine's quality.
For optimal cellaring, lay the bottles on their sides to keep the cork moist and prevent air exposure. If storage space allows, keeping them in a cellar or climate-controlled environment provides the best long-term preservation.
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