Reviews & Ratings

2016 Au Bon Climat White Blends or Varietals "Hildegard"

Winery: Au Bon Climat

Vintage: 2016

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Hildegard"

Wine Category: White Blends or Varietals

Grape blend: 55% Pinot Gris, 35% Pinot Blanc & 10% Aligote

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Santa Maria Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $35

Cases produced: unknown

KWG Score: 94 (based on 2 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (94)

Review date: July 4, 2019

Wine Review: This light yellow colored wine blend for Au Bon Climat is Excellent! It opens with a ginger and pear like bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, slightly acidic, round and juicy. The flavor profile is a delicious poached pear and creme brulee blend. I also detected hints of ginger, honey and oak mixed in. The flavors extended into the finish and show very nice length. This wine would pair well with grilled halibut with brown butter-shallot remoulade. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: A wine named after an Empress has to be exquisite. This distinctive blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Aligote is barrel fermented and gets extra barrel and bottle time. The barrels for this program are all new Francois Frères French oak. Combining a unique blend with long term barrel aging made something special. The lovely aroma of vanillin and hazelnuts from the oak and the mouth-coating richness makes for a wine that seems like a top-notch Chardonnay. The fruit profile is more melony than Chardonnay and the aromas are more flowery than Chardonnay. Food matches that work with Chardonnay would work fine with Hildegard.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Au Bon Climat 2016 Hildegard.