2006 Clendenen Family Vineyards Chardonnay “Le Bon Climat” This low alcohol creamy and delicious chardonnay was grown in Clendenen’s certified organic, home vineyard planted in 1998. Le Bon Climat vineyard is some of the earliest work in Santa Barbara Cty with Dijon Clones planted on devigorating rootstock - this scion-rootstock combination limits yields naturally. The 2006 vintage was sunny and cool; the grapes ripened slowly and were “mature” at a lower sugar/acid ratio. This grape chemistry yielded a wine with mature aromatics and a bright and lively mouth feel. The grapes are gently pressed, the juice is totally barrel fermented and matured in 100% new François Freres Bertranges oak barrels. After 2 years of surlee aging the wine is fined and bottled unfiltered. This is the sixth vintage of this wine, all have been impeccably balanced, complex, and age worthy.