Ranked #22 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2023
The 2021 John X Merriman is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 11% Malbec with 6% Petit Verdot (the Cabernet Franc has been pulled out) from the estate only. It is aged for 20 months in barrel using one-third new oak. The intense nose oe...
This wine is bright, lush, with aromas of peach, apple, clove, and notes of vanilla on the nose. The flavors on the palate are nectarine, Yellow apple, citrus blossom, intertwined with allspice, lemon peel, mineral, and a dry long finish. —
A bouquet of citron, apple blossom, and chamomile culminate in fresh floral notes on the nose. Bright acidity and flavors of grapefruit and baker's yeast make this wine a joy to drink now and a versatile option for food pairing.
Santa Barbara County’s climate and terroir consistently enable Au Bon Climat to produce balanced and lively Chardonnays year after year. Our 2023 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is sourced from five carefully farmed vineyards: Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and North Canyon. Throughout September and October, the fruit is handpicked and sorted in the vineyard, then whole cluster pressed. The juice is quickly settled, chilled, and transferred to barrels for primary fermentation and malolactic fermentation. The following summer, the lots are blended and the wine is bottled, after 8 months of sur lie barrel aging in neutral François Frères barrels.