AU BON CLIMAT 2022 “Hildegard” White Blend
(50% Pinot Gris, 45% Pinot Blanc, 5% Aligoté)
Santa Maria Valley, California
VINEYARD
This wine is a blend of Pinot Beurot (a Burgundian clone of Pinot Gris) and Pinot Blanc grown at Bien Nacido Vineyard in plantings developed for Au Bon Climat, as well as Aligote grown at the estate Le Bon Climat Vineyard. “Hildegard” is a re-creation of the original planting of the Corton Charlemagne vineyard in 800 A.D.
Vintage Notes: The start of the 2022 growing season saw favorable conditions persisting through summer, only to be met with unusually high temperatures that hastened ripening. Despite lower yields, the fruit maintained exceptional quality.
CELLAR
With each varietal handled separately, the fruit was hand harvested, whole cluster pressed, and put into barrel where primary and malolactic fermentations were completed. This distinctive blend gets the best of everything including 16 months barrel age in all new François Frères French oak, creating something special. It has a texture, complexity, and distinctiveness that cannot be found in a single white wine varietal.
ACCOLADES
95 points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous Media
93 points - Jeb Dunnuck
ABC – Hildegard 2022 – Tech Sheet
ABC – Hildegard 2021 – Tech Sheet
ABC – Hildegard 2020 – Tech Sheet
ABC – Hildegard 2019 – Tech Sheet
ABC – Hildegard 2018 – Tech Sheet