Let’s be honest…there are a whole lot of people that claim that they absolutely hate Chardonnay and yet secretly drink the living shit out of it. And/or, there exist people that think that Chardonnay is a flavor and since the flavor of the one Chardonnays that they tasted didn’t appeal to them, they’ve turned to other flavors. Today is about showing Chardonnay, the grape, and how versatile and interesting the wine (still) is.
2017 Jean-Marc Brocard Bourgogne Chardonnay
Chablis, FR
Regular Price $22.99
Sale price $17.99
The label of this unoaked wine says ‘Kimmeridgien’ which refers to the specific soil type that the grapevines are grown in. This soil is found on the south coast of England and across northern France, in vineyards in Loire, Champagne and Chablis (among others). This soil type (comprised of fossilized sea creatures and limestone) offers advantages to the grapevine and the resulting wines. This wine exhibits the typical sharp and persistent acidity and understated fruit tones that are typical of Kimmeridgien soil and cool climate
2016 Thevenet & Fils Macon Pierreclos
Maconnaise, FR
Regular Price $22.99
Sale price $17.99
This is now the third generation growing grapes making lovely and unobtrusive wines from the southern end of Burgundy. Fermented in concrete, and remaining on lees for 6 months, this wine is lush and creamy, but still possessing bright acidity. Likewise unoaked, this wine shows a beautiful contrast to the Brocard.
2017 Bruno Lorenzon ‘Clos Alfred’ Bourgogne Blanc
Mercurey, FR
Regular Price $34.99
Sale price $27.99
The Cote Chalonnaise has a history as long as the more renowned Cote de Beaune, but has only in the last few generations has it garnered a similar level of respect. Bruno Lorenzon makes beautiful wines from his small holdings in Mercurey with a focus and attention to the vineyard almost bordering on obsession. This wine is from a tiny plot just outside of the ‘1er’ appellations and shows the rich ripe fruit typical of the region with balancing acidity and barely noticeable oak.
2015 Bouchard Pere & Fils Rully Blanc
Beaune, FR
Regular Price $25.99
Sale price $19.99
Bouchard Père & Fils is one of the oldest (1731)—yet one of the smaller—négociants among the major Burgundy houses. The standards of quality of Bouchard Père & Fils were reaffirmed in 1995 when the domain was purchased by Joseph Henriot of Champagne Henriot, a family-owned Champagne house founded in 1808. This renewed commitment shows in this bold wines from Rully. Floral, rich and full with hints of cedar and spice to compliment the baked apple and lemon curd core.
2016 Austerity Chardonnay
Arroyo Seco, CA
Regular Price $18.99
Sale price $14.99
The problem with many California Chardonnays is not flavor (many are, frankly, delicious) but rather at what point do the tropical, buttery and caramel flavors overwhelm? This wine answers that by dialing the wine down and showing how attractive those flavors can remain when in balance. Lush, tropical, buttery, vanilla…but just enough, is the mantra here.
2016 Philippe Colin Bourgogne Chardonnay
Chassagne-Montrachet, FR
Regular Price $41.99
Sale price $32.99
In the world of White Burgundy (which is almost entirely Chardonnay), the wines from the north (Chablis) are lean and crisp and the wines from the south (Maconnaise) are full and fruity. The wines from the Cotes de Beaune exhibit bold elegance and sophistication, rich and full, yet impeccably balanced, delicious when young, and profound with some bottle age. This wine is of that school and lineage…if not quite as full and rich as some of its more expensive cousins, clearly of that style