2020 Au Bon Climat Hildegard White Blend

About the Wine

Antonio Galloni from Vinous Media loves these wines. This is what he said about the winery: 

“This is a fabulous set of wines from Au Bon Climat. I admit, it’s hard today to taste wines Jim Clendenen made prior to his passing last year. At the same time, these new releases provide a fascinating insight into his stylistic choices across several vineyards and sites. It's fascinating to taste the Au Bon Climat wines given how much Clendenen influenced many of today's leading young winemakers. Pretty much without exception, Clendenen's wines, are richer and more powerful, with greater oak influence and overall lushness. More than anything else, these wines are American treasures, legacies of one of this country's most inspired and inspiring winemakers.”

Au Bon Climat Winery is a beacon of excellence in the world of winemaking. With a commitment to crafting Burgundian-styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the heart of Santa Barbara County, they have earned a world-class reputation over the past four decades. The name "Au Bon Climat" reflects their dedication to creating wines that thrive in the ideal climate and soils of the region, echoing the French idiom for a "good place."

The visionary mind behind Au Bon Climat was Jim Clendenen, who laid the foundation for this exceptional winery in 1982, drawing inspiration from explorations in Burgundy. His unwavering dedication to traditional winemaking principles remains unchanged, resulting in wines that showcase balance, nuance, and authenticity.

Au Bon Climat's winemaking philosophy combines Old World techniques with the unique terroir of Santa Barbara County. Barrel fermentation, whole cluster pressing, lees aging, and extensive time in François Frères barrels are standard practices. Hand-picked grapes, harvested at the perfect sugar level, allow these wines to age gracefully.

Jim Clendenen's vision has been carried forward by a dedicated winery team that shares his manifesto. His daughter Isabelle and son Knox Alexander have carried Jim's legacy. Isabelle brings her unique perspective to the winery. With a background in Japanese studies and extensive experience in wine production, she is deeply involved in the winery's future. Knox has developed a keen interest in all things wine-related. With a focus on wine production, he travels internationally to represent the brand and continues his father's legacy of crafting balanced, complex, and restrained wines.

Aging: 20 months in one-third of new barrels

Tasting Notes

50% Pinot Gris, 45% Pinot Blanc and 5% Aligote. Hildegard has a texture, complexity, and distinctiveness that cannot be found in a single white wine varietal. The 2020 is rich yet zesty, starting with aromas of lemon, baked apricot, cream and honeysuckle on the nose. The palate is layered in hazelnut, lemon confit and unabashed oak flavors, proving creamy in texture yet blasted with persistent acidity. Hildegard is considered our most food friendly white wine. While it pairs heavenly with many dishes, this wine is ideal for a Chantrelle mushroom risotto. It also works well with rich, delicate seafood, but has the structure to hold its own well to oily fish dishes as well.

Critical Reviews

This Burgundian-minded blend of 50% Pinot Gris, 45% Pinot Blanc and 5% Aligote is exciting to try each vintage. This year's is rich yet zesty, starting with aggressive aromas of lemon juice, baked apricot, cream and toast on the nose. The palate is layered in hazelnut, lemon confit and unabashed oak flavors, proving creamy in texture yet blasted with persistent acidity. ~94 Wine Enthusiast

A blend of 50% Pinot Gris, 45% Pinot Blanc, and the rest Aligoté, the 2020 Hildegard Estate White Blend has a richer yet still vibrant bouquet of stone fruits, toasted bread, honeysuckle, and spice. This carries to a medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant white with notable richness as well as freshness and balance. It's a beautiful white. ~93 Jeb Dunnuck

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