White Wines

April 2012 White Wine of the Month

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:09:00 GMT

Wine:	2010 Cave de Lugny Mâcon-Villages (13% abv)
Country of Origin:	Mâconnais in the southern area of Burgundy, France
Our thoughts/comments:	Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, this really is a truly delicious and amazing value for money white Burgundy, the classic home of this versatile grape. Mâconnais is positioned south of the Côte d’Or in Burgundy where the white wine production is mainly centred around the towns of Mâcon and Pouilly-Fuissé. Pouilly-Fuissé is well renowned for its full bodied white wines that give some Grand Cru White Burgundies a good run for their money! Right beside it, the more unfamiliar Mâcon, whilst they may not be world beaters, do produce some great wines. There are 3 levels (in ascending order); Mâcon, Mâcon-Superieur (more alcohol) and ‘the one to look out for’ Mâcon-Villages. Produced by one of the top co-operatives, this crisp and elegant full bodied wine combines buttery ripe apple and citrus notes. Good concentration of flavours and well balanced with a hint of minerality. Serve chilled on its own or with chicken, seafood, white meats and salads.
Price:	£7.99 per bottle (70cl bottle price)
Stockist:	Sainsburys

February 2012 White Wine of the Month

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:04:00 GMT

Wine:

Domain Bernard Delagrange (13% abv)

Country of Origin:

Meursault a commune in Côte de Beaune in the southern section of the Côte d’Or, Burgundy, France

Our thoughts:

This delicious white Burgundy is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes.

Burgundy, particularly the Côte d’Or, produces some world class red and white wines achieving phenomenal prices but the region can be a real challenge. Combine the classification system, which is geographically focused (Bordeaux is producer/Château orientated) and the French ‘equal’ Inheritance laws, a relic from the Napoleonic times, it has resulted in the vineyards being divided and sub-divided into small plots. Each plot is often ‘farmed’ by a different grower who may make and bottle their own wine with different ideas and capabilities or sell the grapes to a négociant and there are négociants who have their own vineyard holdings and so it goes on.

Result? A premier cru or even grand cru wine will be more expensive but not necessarily be better! What’s the key? You need to get to know the better producers.

Burgundy is the classic home of the Chardonnay grape. This full bodied wine combines complex hazelnuts, honey and vanilla aromas with a fabulous buttery, creamy texture that is countered by firm acidity and delicate oak. The deep concentration of flavours is long and well balanced with a lovely nutty, mineral and stony refined finish.

Price:

£225 per case (£28 per bottle) (70cl bottle price) although if you have the opportunity as we did you can buy this at Cave shop for €22.00!!

Stockist:

Fine and Rare Wine Merchants

November 2011 White Wine of the Month

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:27:00 GMT

Wine:

Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner 'Terraces' 2010 Wachau, Austria (12% abv)

Country of Origin:

Wachau, Austria

Our thoughts:

Austria doesn’t produce much wine in global terms and only a small percentage is actually exported. Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s signature white grape and Wachau, with it’s steep terraces, is renowned for creating world class Grüner Veltliner.

This great value IWC Bronze medal winner from the celebrated Domäne Wachau estate and exclusive to Waitrose is crisp, dry and unoaked with complex and mouth-watering spicey; white pepper, stone fruit; white peach, citrus and mineral notes. Delicate, elegant and well balanced.

Why not give it a try.

Serve chilled (7-10°C) and enjoy on it’s own or with light starters, salads or prawns. It is a perfect match for seafood, particularly grilled fish, but would be equally at home with barbequed prawns, chicken or even seafood pasta dishes.

Price:

£8.49 per bottle per 75cl bottle price

Stockist:

Waitrose

August 2011 White Wine of the Month

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:02:00 GMT

Wine:	Cantine Lunae Bosoni Vermentino Colli di Luni DOC Etichetta Grigia 2009 (13% abv)
Country of Origin:	Liguria, North West Italy
Our thoughts:	In the past it seemed that most Ligurian wine stayed in Liguria but there are now some great quality wines making their way over to the UK. Fifth generation producer Paolo Bosoni has been at the forefront of producing and exporting quality wines since he took over the running of Cantine Lunae Bosoni in 1966. This 100% Vermentino comes from the Colli di Luni (meaning hills of the moon), a DOC that was created in 1989, that straddles both Tuscany and Liguria. It is both Tuscany's northernmost DOC and Liguria's southernmost DOC! This is a great wine for al fresco summer drinking. It has a straw yellow colour with greenish inflections. The nose is floral, reminsicent of honeysuckle, blossom and wildflowers. The palate is dry and fresh and very well-blanced. The notes from the nose follow onto the palate but there are also flavours of fresh fruit, apricot, apples and a slight 'almondy' finish. Think Sauvignon Blanc, without the gooseberries, with added floral notes. It is a perfect match for seafood, particularly grilled fish, but would be equally at home with barbequed prawns, chicken or even seafood pasta dishes.
Price:	£11.50 per bottle (5% discount in cases of 6) 75cl bottle price
Stockist:	Fareham Wine Cellars

May 2011 White Wine of the Month

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:06:00 GMT

Wine:	Chateau Bauduc Les Trois Hectares Blanc 2008 (12.5% abv)
Country of Origin:	Bordeaux, France
Our thoughts:	We came across Château Bauduc during a recent trip to Bordeaux and discovered that Gordon Ramsey (we're told it features on all his wine lists), Rick Stein and Oz and James had beaten us to it!! This is a really lovely well-made wine with true elegance, freshness and balance at a remarkable price for the quality! It's made from 60 year-old Sémillon vines (90%) with a dash of Sauvignon Blanc from a single three hectare vineyard (7.5 acres). Aged in French oak, it is aromatic with a long and complex finish with an almost Burgundian feel to it - "More than a match for quite a few much more expensive wines from top appellations" says Oz Clarke.
Price:	£10.50 per bottle in cases of 6 75cl bottle price
Stockist:	Château Bauduc cuts out the middlemen and offer discounts and free UK delivery if you buy a few cases see www.bauduc.com