6+ $34.99 (code: 6saves2)

94pts Wine Enthusiast
This blend of 50% Pinot Gris, 45% Pinot Blanc and 5% Aligote was inspired by the ancient wines of Burgundy before Chardonnay took over. It is one of the most exciting whites to come out of the Central Coast every year. This vintage offers aromas of salted cashew, sharp lemon peel and sawdust on the nose. The toasty palate combines hazelnut and brioche with a fine line of creamy lemon and brisk grapefruit zest.

94pts Vinous
The 2021 White Hildegard Estate is fabulous. The blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Aligot works so well here. Citrus confit, white flowers, apricot, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes all grace this wonderfully expressive edition of the Hildegard. There is a touch of reduction on the finish, but it is more nuanced than dominant. This is a fine edition of the Hildegard. Drinking Window: 2023-2028

– ByAntonio GallonionJuly 2023

Au Bon Climat remains a reference point for Santa Barbara, perhaps THE reference point given the global reach these wines now enjoy. I have not seen too many changes here since Jim Clendenen passed away in early 2021, although most of these wines were made while he was still alive. The signatures are a fair amount of new oak for the Chardonnays, but often with a prominent use of large and thick-staved 350L barrels, and heavy use of whole clusters for the Pinots. The top selections often see extended time in wood. Of course, it all starts with sourcing at some of the very finest vineyards in Santa Barbara. Jim Clendenen influenced pretty much all of todays younger generation, and that influence remains. Readers will find a number of compelling wines in this years crop of new releases.

93pts Jeb Dunnuck
Stone fruits, toasty oak, citrus blossom, and a kiss of honeyed spice all emerge from the 2021 Hildegard Estate White Blend, a beautifully textured, layered, elegant white that tastes like a great White Burgundy. Based on 50% Pinot Gris, 45% Pinot Blanc, and the rest Aligot, it’s going to shine for at least 4-5 years, and I suspect even longer.

92pts Wine Advocate
The 2021 Hildegard, a blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Aligote, was matured in 100% new French oak for 24 months. Its youthful, exuberant toast and allspice give way to a deep core of peach and red apple, plus nuances of bread dough and cashew. The medium-bodied palate offers savory flavors, balances vibrant acidity with a silky texture and finishes long and youthfully leesy. It drinks wonderfully on its own but will also pair widely at the table.