Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Chardonnay
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted chicken with tarragon butter, seared sea scallops, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The 'Nuits-Blanches au Bouge' Chardonnay is a legendary cuvée from Au Bon Climat, born from the late Jim Clendenen's playful wit and his deep reverence for Burgundy. The name, translating to 'Sleepless Nights at the Bouge' (a nod to late-night harvest revelry and a humorous play on Burgundy's Côte de Nuits), reflects the tireless passion poured into this reserve-style bottling. Sourced primarily from the old-vines of the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard and Le Bon Climat Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, this wine represents the richer, more opulent side of Au Bon Climat's portfolio. It is fermented and aged in 100% new François Frères French oak barrels for up to 18 months, undergoing full malolactic fermentation. This extended barrel program imparts a luxurious texture, seamlessly integrated with vibrant cool-climate acidity and a distinct mineral backbone.
🍾 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.