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
Established in 1982 by visionary vintner Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat stands as one of California's most influential pioneers of cool-climate, Burgundian-style winemaking. Situated on the benchlands of the Santa Maria Valley and sourcing from iconic vineyards such as Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict, and the estate Le Bon Climat, the estate thrives within transverse valleys channeled by cold maritime airflow off the Pacific Ocean. Viticulture emphasizes sustainability, with key estate holdings certified organic. In the cellar, the late Clendenen's philosophy lives on through longtime winemaker Jim Adelman alongside Jim's children, Isabelle and Knox Clendenen. Vinification champions classical European restraint: whole-cluster pressing, native and selected yeast fermentations in François Frères French oak barrels, full lees contact, and unhurried elevage without excessive new wood or heavy extraction. Celebrated benchmark whites include the single-vineyard Bien Nacido K Block, Sanford & Benedict, and the flagship Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches Au Bouge, each exemplifying bright minerality, seamless acid architecture, and remarkable cellar longevity.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay
🍷 ABV
13.5%