Chardonnay Unity Nuits Blanches Au Bouge
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted chicken with cream sauce, pan-seared sea scallops, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The 'Nuits-Blanches au Bouge' Chardonnay is one of Au Bon Climat's most prestigious and unique white wines, crafted as a deliberate homage to the rich, complex white Burgundies of the Côte d'Or. The name translates playfully to 'sleepless nights in Bouge,' a cheeky nod by the late legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen to his travels and late-night blending sessions. Sourced primarily from the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard (specifically the older K Block) and the estate's Le Bon Climat Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, this cuvée is distinguished by its intensive cellar treatment. Unlike other Au Bon Climat Chardonnays, it undergoes 100% barrel fermentation and is aged for up to 18 months in 100% new François Frères French oak barrels. This extensive oak regime, combined with complete malolactic fermentation and regular lees stirring, yields a remarkably textured, age-worthy Chardonnay that balances opulent buttery notes with the signature cool-climate acidity of Santa Barbara County.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1982 by the legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat is a pioneering estate located in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County, California. Situated on the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard, the winery is internationally acclaimed for its unwavering commitment to crafting Burgundian-style wines of balance, restraint, and longevity. Utilizing traditional French winemaking techniques, including open-top fermenters, manual punch-downs, and aging in classic Francois Frères French oak barrels, Au Bon Climat produces highly expressive, food-friendly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their signature expressions, such as the Knox Alexander Pinot Noir and Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Chardonnay, showcase the unique, cool-climate terroir of California's Central Coast.