Au Bon Climat Estate Bottled White Table Wine “Hildegard” 2015
In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends. There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate. It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time. The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard. I recommend to try a “Club”, click this “WineClubLink” to go to their site. I highly recommend a trip to Santa Barbara, you will not be disappointed! Keep checking back with SippingFineWine.com for all of the wineries visited, wines tasted and comments regarding the wines, wineries and folks I met.
Jim Clendenen was born in Akron, Ohio in the 1950s. Graduated from UC, Santa Barbara (Pre-Law in 1976). In his junior year studying abroad, he discovered Burgundy and Champagne which convinced him to attempt a career in wine rather than law.
Hildegard was an 8th Century queen where legend has it she grew weary of drunken knights spilling red wine all over her place, so she had servants replant some of the vineyards to white grapes. A blend of a blend of Pinot Gris (50%), Pinot Blanc (40%) and Aligoté (10%), aged for 2 years in French oak, 100% new (long for a white). Pleasant aromas of fruit, spice and cedar. On the palate slight peach and citrus notes, well integrated with oak and spice. Lingering finish ending with nutty spice character. This white was something special! Tasting Sample!
Cheers!