2017 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard
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The 2017 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from a Grand Cru site in the Santa Maria Valley and was fermented and aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. This Burgundian beauty gives up lots of caramelized citrus, toasted bread, and spice-driven aromatics and shows medium-bodied richness on the palate, with bright acidity and some classic Santa Maria salinity and seaside-like nuances. You can drink bottles today, yet they'll also keep for over a decade. This is another fine set of releases from Jim Clendenen's Au Bon Climat. I always find a certain Burgundian style here, and in general, these wines benefit from bottle age and evolve beautifully.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2017 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard is such an elegant wine. Hints of tangerine oil, lemon confit, white flowers, mint and chamomile grace this subtle, beautifully understated Chardonnay. I would give the 2017 another year or two in bottle, as it is a bit tightly wound at this stage. I really like the energy here.