Au Bon Climat "Hildegard" Magnum, Santa Maria Valley, California 2002

FROM AU BON CLIMAT:

THE WINE: Featuring a blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Aligote, this wine will remind you of the old-school white Burgundy wines. The hazelnut and vanilla aromas from the French oak hark back to a Chardonnay, but the stone fruit and lavender notes give this white wine a distinctly floral flavor profile.

THE PRODUCER: Au Bon Climat winery was totally devoted to making classic, Burgundian-styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County. The convergence of cool, brisk Pacific air, marine-based soils, and east-west running valleys of the area provided an ideal place for growing exceptional grapes. Hence the name “Au Bon Climat,” the French idiom for “good place”.

Forty years later, the wines have earned a world-class reputation internationally. Jim Clendenen, “The Mind Behind” Au Bon Climat, set the objective and stayed true to its course. As the fads in California winemaking have come and gone, Au Bon Climat has maintained a laser focus in producing traditional, site-specific, nuanced, iconic wines.