Talley Vineyard Chardonnay
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from vintage release
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted chicken, grilled lobster, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The partnership between Au Bon Climat's late, legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen and the Talley family represents a historic milestone in Central Coast viticulture. Sourced from the Rincon and Rosemary's sections of the Talley Vineyard in the Arroyo Grande Valley, this Chardonnay benefits from a unique microclimate defined by cool maritime breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean and calcareous clay soils. Clendenen applied classic Burgundian techniques to this exceptional fruit, utilizing barrel fermentation in French oak, complete malolactic fermentation, and extensive lees aging. The result is a Chardonnay that beautifully balances California richness with Old World structure, showcasing vibrant acidity, mineral undertones, and a capacity to age gracefully.
🍾 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.