Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2031
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken with herbs, pan-seared halibut with lemon butter sauce, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is hallowed ground in Santa Barbara County, first planted in 1971 by pioneers Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict, who proved that world-class Chardonnay could thrive in the cool, wind-swept valleys of the Sta. Rita Hills. Legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat recognized the singular greatness of this site early on, crafting a single-vineyard Chardonnay that has become a benchmark for California. Sourced from some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in the region, this wine is shaped by the unique maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean and the vineyard's gravelly, calcium-rich soils. In the cellar, Au Bon Climat employs traditional Burgundian techniques: barrel fermentation in classic French oak, complete malolactic fermentation, and extended sur lie aging. The result is a Chardonnay of remarkable tension, seamlessly weaving together rich, textured layers of orchard fruit and hazelnut with a piercing, mineral-driven acidity that reflects its cool-climate origins.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1982 by the visionary late winemaker Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat is situated in the cool-climate expanse of the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. Operating out of the acclaimed Bien Nacido Vineyard, the winery forged an international reputation by championing restraint, balance, and classical Burgundian traditions long before cool-climate California viticulture entered the mainstream. Driven by early harvesting, indigenous fermentations, and meticulous French oak aging, Au Bon Climat crafts structured, age-worthy wines distinguished by high natural acidity and moderate alcohol levels. The estate is celebrated globally for its expressive site-specific and reserve bottlings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, including iconic signature labels such as Knox Alexander, Isabelle, and Nuits-Blanches au Bouge.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13.5%