2015 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County

Community Tasting Notes (26) Median Score: 90 points

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  1/1/2023 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 87 Points

  Nearly three years after my last note i the 2015, the same score and relative disappointment. Not the late and sadly missed Jim Clendenen's finest white. His Wild Boy Chardonnay consistently better from my perspective.

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  5/6/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

  Old Note. Drank a month ago. PNP I briefly thought it might be fat and flabby. It was far from it. Fruit, Acid, Malo and subtle oak. The flavors bounced around my palate. It is hard to define the style for me. Should have bought more of this producer. Its got lean elements its has rich elements. Nice wine, very good QPR. RIP Jim.

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  3/19/2020 - SLIMES wrote: 89 Points

  Perfectly acceptable but not in the same league as the Ataraxia Chardonnay 2016 or even the Catena Alta CH 2014.

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  3/11/2020 - johnrm Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Good colour, rich fruit balanced by good acidity. Long and complex with attractive minerality and good balance. Elegant and a slightly better partner with a rabbit and duck liver terrine than the younger 2018 Wild Boy. Elegant but I think this has a way to go, yet. Tasted with Jim Clendenen at The George of Stamford.

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  11/5/2019 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 84 Points

  MNB: Chardonnay (Home (Noe st)): (blind)
  Medium minus gold. Slightly oxidative, sweet, oak-driven nose. Like candied lemon peel, slightly oxidized. Almost smelly lees - pear and baguette.
  Dry, 13.5% alcohol, low new oak - mostly used, maybe 15% new. Extremely prominent lees aging, and slight oxidation - browned apple, yellow apple. Elevated acid - pretty decent.
  
  Almost smells like a bit of botrytis. Honey.
  
  Laterals:
  - 2014 Sonoma Chardonnay - mid level - $35. A little past its prime.
  - 2013 Macon - botrytis vintage, might make sense. But this seems like it has too much oak and too high acid.
  
  Final call: 2014 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.
  Au Bon Climat
  10% new
  13.5% alcohol
  2015
  Santa Barbara County
  100% MLF
  
  Analysis: pretty close!

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