Community Tasting Notes 5

• finewinebuff57 wrote: 90 points

  November 30, 2013 - Why I like 'classic' California chardonnay. Ripe, balanced, not over-oaked, generous, yet restrained. Fine now, will suspect get better over 18 months or so

  Comment

• alanh13 Likes this wine: 91 points

  June 15, 2013 - On its own, 12C: very rich, powerful, minerally. Puligy-like. Great balance of oak. This is just my kind of wine! Quite complex: light but toasty oak, some gunflint, a hint of appley fruit, maybe even caramelised apple and pear, some nuttiness, great mouthfeel. Good value as this is comparable to a good 1er cru Puligny.
  With smoked haddock risotto in a creamy sauce: seems a little riper and more warm climate now. Nice balance of wood against smokiness of haddock: neither are overpowering. Good layering here: as the initial smokey, oaky mineral notes fade with time and with the smoked haddock, the fruit comes to the fore and is a lovely mix of Burgundy (apple, pear, no lemon though) and more warm climate peach and pineapple.
  With brie cheese (16-17C): nice lemon notes now with buttery oak. Great match.
  Very complex and constantly changing. Long finish too. This is exactly what I want a good oaked chardonnay to do. Excellent.
  PS: Ideal temperature for me was around 14-16C.

  Comment

• DonDon wrote: 88 points

  April 15, 2013 - My fault - predictably not great with curry!

  Comment

• DonDon wrote: 90 points

  March 14, 2013 - Improved when finished the bottle a few days later. Was properly vacuum sealed but was not expecting the wine to be so good after so long

  Comment

• DonDon wrote: 88 points

  November 26, 2012 - Quite unusual for a cali Chardonnay and unlike most othe ABCs I have tried. Very light oak and much more acidity than i was expecting - almost closer to a Sauv Blanc than a buttery Chardonnay

  Comment

Pro Reviews 1

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2009
• Type White
• Producer Au Bon Climat
• Varietal Chardonnay
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Central Coast
• Appellation Santa Ynez Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 4 (8%)
• Consumed 46 (92%)

Food Pairing

Who Likes This Wine

More About This Wine