White Wine

Sourced from selected premium vineyards this classic Australian Chardonnay combines sumptuous aromas of peach and pineapple with complementing ripe tropical fruit flavours on the palate, all perfectly balanced with a subtle citrus zing.

Smart and serious with a hint of oak.

The Colombard and Chardonnay grapes are just made for each other. Together they create this very refreshing white wine with lively citrus fruit characteristics and crisp, fresh acidity.

jancisrobionson.com 18/20 "Lime-like freshness, the spice showing on the back palate.... creamy texture... mid palate/freshness/flinty character pull it in tight on the long finish. Very long"

Serious classic, a benchmark of Burgundian style in California. Broad-boned, multi-layered savoury/saline/mineral complexity. Packs an impressive punch at the price.

Viña Arroba, meaning “enchanted vineyard” is a captivating wine from Spain’s sun-drenched vineyards. This crisp and refreshing white wine has flavours of stone and tropical fruit and ripe apple. A lovely match to grilled fish, creamy pasta and risotto.

Wild ferment, French oak, super-grand and arresting. Decanter "lovely creaminess... packed full of flavour, intense bacon fat, spice, subtle tropical fruit... elegant style"

Gaelle & Jerome Meunier are doing things the hard way in the modern Bugundy world and starting a domain from scratch. In the last 10 years they have managed to acquire some impressive holdings in Puligny Montrachet as well as their home turf of Mercurey. Their wines started clean and precise, but with successive vintages are becoming more racy and exciting. Expect good things from this new estate.

Monthelie is a sleepy appellation just outside Meursault, famed for good value wines. This example accords to the Prunier-Bonheur style of silky/creamy texture and nuanced savouriness. Delicate, evolved, charming, hints of nutmeg and orange peel. No need to decant or aerate, a ready-to-drink treat. Organic.

Made in tank. Marmalade slightly sweet nose. Nice greengage flavours with good balancing acidity. Stephane Ponsard has wine in his blood. His father also has an estate in Santenay, but he and his wife now look after his father-in-law’s estate, Claude Nouveau. With a large vineyard holding in Santenay 1er Cru Grand Clos Rousseau, old vine plots in Maranges 1er Cru, and plenty of villages vines from both, Stephane has crafted hefty, rich, hedonistic wines in 2018.

Rich, exotic nose, lemon curd, honeysuckle, and fresh apricot characters. Bright acidity, concentrated fruit, lots of energy. Stephane Ponsard has wine in his blood. His father also has an estate in Santenay, but he and his wife now look after his father-in-law’s estate, Claude Nouveau. With a large vineyard holding in Santenay 1er Cru Grand Clos Rousseau, old vine plots in Maranges 1er Cru, and plenty of villages vines from both, Stephane has crafted hefty, rich, hedonistic wines in 2018.

Jancis of the 13 "Relatively dense and sweet. Lots to get your teeth into here. Lots of charm. Definitely Côte d’Or and really Very Good Value" All the classic notes of nut oil, vanilla, dry honey. Very classy. Famed organic Meursault grower. Monthelie is just yards from Meursault.

jancisrobinson.com 16.5/20 "Herby, grassy nose with fresh apple and something a bit more tropical – mango, perhaps? Lots of enjoyable fruit complexity here, plus a subtle chalky mineral finish."

From a legendary New Zealand producer. Really pleasing nose. Straight up, classical, pure. Slightly smoky, but soft too. Creamy, sweet lemon, slightly pithy on the finish. Clean, simple, and pleasing.

Roasted nuts (almond, hazelnut) on the nose, in the mouth it is soft, full, round and fleshy, powerful. Expresses richness and fullness without the slightest heaviness. Serve with fish, white meat, goat's cheese.

Roasted nuts (almond, hazelnut) on the nose, in the mouth it is soft, full, round and fleshy, powerful. Expresses richness and fullness without the slightest heaviness. Serve with fish, white meat, goat's cheese.

A blend of 60% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin Blanc and 10% Mauzac, this is a bright and lively white, with attractive aromas of white flower, clover, pear flesh and lightly grilled peach. The medium-weight palate is remarkably balanced, with ample acidity to lift the ripe apple, pear and citrus flavors, finishing with a kiss of sweet spice.

Quite toasty on the nose, crème brulee, Greenish yellow colour, pear and apple fruit, ripe, super juicy, super expressive, a little grip. Spice, leanness, and minerality on the finish. Lingering and ethereal.

Mineral, saline aromas. Quite spicy. A little bit tropical, guava, passionfruit. Melon fruit, juicy, vibrant. Totally different. Very juicy. Textural. Plump but not fat. Bigger boned.

From the superior upper slopes of the cru this is typical Charmes – powerful, rounded and elegant all in one. Aromas of honey and toasted bread intertwine on the pleasiingy full palate. 10% new oak. "Lively and a little leaner than the Narvaux but with the same good balance between fruit and acidity. Plus a more lifted nose and real texture. Really long too." 17 pts, Jancis Robinson

Domaine des Comtes Lafon has the deepest and coldest cellars in Burgundy and they nurture some of the greatest dry white wines of Burgundy. Dominique Lafon has been in charge since 1985, taking over a domaine which already had a reputation for outstanding, if irregular whites, and potentially good reds. When Lafon took over the domaine, most of his vineyards were leased out on a share-cropping basis. It was only towards the end of the 80s that he managed to reclaim all the vineyards and thus have full responsibility for them.The white wines are now consistently among the best in Burgundy while since 1989 the reds have reached the top division. The domaine is now cultivated according to biodynamic principles with no use of herbicides or chemical sprays. All the wines are barrel-fermented, using new oak for the 1er Crus upwards. This is the very pinnacle of White Burgundy with superlative fruit, power, complexity and total harmony being the wines' hallmarks. In September 1999 the Lafons bought a domaine in the Maconnais at Milly Lamartine, sold under the label of Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon. Further vineyards have been bought subsequently, and from 2009 there is a contract in place to farm the vineyards of the Chateau de Viré. The 2018 crop was generous in the Mâconnais, but there was no negative effect on the quality of the wines – quite the opposite, in fact, in the case of the Mâcon-Villages from Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon, which contains de-classified fruit from some of the region’s most celebrated vineyards. As ever, this wine’s calling card is zippy acidity and a citrus-fruit attack segueing into richer stone-fruit notes on the mid-palate. A proportion of the ’18 was aged for six months in large oak foudres, contributing extra complexity and texture. A luxurious apéritif, it also pairs brilliantly will all manner of dishes from tandoori chicken to salmon and asparagus quiche.

"Saline, restrained aromas. Lightly toasty, a little floral, then apricots and peaches. Long, mineral, and toasty. Great persistent acidity throughout. Yum." AA, Feb 2021

Chateau Montelena 2012 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Rather Chablis-like aromas of apple and resin, plus a hint of honey. Sweet and ripe in the nature of the vintage, offering a touch of creaminess to the flavours of fresh peach, apple, herbs and spices. Shows a broad spectrum of ripeness without any obvious extremes. A very successful vintage for this wine. (ST) Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classically balanced and complex wines in its own voice, and that from the right sites and with perseverance, the results could equal anything made the world over. Through fads and trends, Montelena has never changed in its philosophy of bringing the sunshine of California in a style that is structured, balanced and age worthy. In 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris”, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in a blind tasting with a who’s-who of the French food and wine industry judging. And as they say, the rest is history. The wine opens with fresh peach, apricot, and honeydew amidst citrus blossom and rose water. The diversity of aromas in this vintage is astounding as the floral characteristics begin to take center stage with time in the glass along with ample fresh pear and cinnamon. The palate is lush viscous, and driven by lemon curd, the palate leans toward creaminess but with enough bright acid, green apple, and toast to bring balance and finesse. The ripeness of the vintage drives the mouthfeel as the flavors exude freshness and vibrancy, a unique combination. The finish is concentrated and persistent, again stone fruit appear, albeit in candied form, along with a hint of white pepper and plenty of orange zest.

“At the heart of the vineyard, the Domaine Patrick Javillier is located in Meursault, capital of the great white wines of Burgundy. This family domain covers 11 hectares of the Côte de Beaune, in Regional appellations, with the brand new Bourgogne Côte d’Or, but also AOC Village, Premier Cru and Grand Cru. We produce mainly white wines from the Chardonnay grape, in parcels located in the villages of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Savigny-les-Beaune and Aloxe-Corton. Our range also includes wines made from the Pinot Noir grape, from the Savigny-les-Beaune, Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses appellation areas. Our winemaking methods allow wines to express the diversity of these terroirs.” Patrick has been making this 60-40 blend of two lieux-dits, Les Clous (0.35 hectares beside Les Tillets) and Les Crotots (0.25 hectares below Poruzots), for years. Les Clous is clay-rich and the resulting wine is lush, but still with good energy. The palate is creamy and sunny, while the palate offers texture and freshness.

"15-20% new oak. The oak is a little more apparent...And there's more depth of fruit. Crisp citrus purity but just a touch short of fruit in relation to the acidity." (JH) 16/20, jancisrobinson.com

A tight, mineral wine with classic Hamilton Russell Vineyards length and complexity. Prominent pear and lime fruit aromas and flavours are brought beautifully into focus by a tight line of bright natural acid and a long, dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage.

This is a wonderfully positioned vineyard for a simple village wine, nestling under the Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet. The Bachelets’ parcel also touches Chassagne’s Les Encegnières. The fruit is rich and luscious, around a very mineral and compact core. A very fine example at this level. Drink 2022-2025. Jean-Claude Bachelet used to sell the majority of his crop to négociants, but nowadays the estate bottles virtually all of its wines and is considered one of the most conscientious wine producers in St Aubin. After moving to superb new cellars in the hamlet of Gamay, next to St Aubin, Benoît and Jean-Baptiste Bachelet have taken over from their father Jean-Claude (who died in 2019). The basic principle of a long, slow barrel-ageing for almost two years remains in force, while the state-of-the-art winery has improved consistency. In the vineyard, the brothers have been experimenting with biodynamic viticulture and have plans to extend this across their holdings in St Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. The Bachelet wines are exceptionally well balanced, with understated character and good medium-term ageing

"Aromas of spiced pear, white flowers and honeycomb preface the 2018 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Macherelles, a medium to full-bodied, bright and lively wine that's one of the more introverted in the range, revealing promising depth at the core and concluding with a chalky finish." William Kelley,Wine Advocate, January 2021. 91 pts Jean-Claude Bachelet used to sell the majority of his crop to négociants, but nowadays the estate bottles virtually all of its wines and is considered one of the most conscientious wine producers in St Aubin. After moving to superb new cellars in the hamlet of Gamay, next to St Aubin, Benoît and Jean-Baptiste Bachelet have taken over from their father Jean-Claude (who died in 2019). The basic principle of a long, slow barrel-ageing for almost two years remains in force, while the state-of-the-art winery has improved consistency. In the vineyard, the brothers have been experimenting with biodynamic viticulture and have plans to extend this across their holdings in St Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. The Bachelet wines are exceptionally well balanced, with understated character and good medium-term ageing

"Toasty, broad, and fleshy as is the style. Rather sumptuous, oak and toast but great mineral undertow throughout. Long and polished. Some tropical, even a slight green mango on the finish. Good." AA, Feb 2021

Rustenberg is a well-known producer of high quality Chardonnays; the Stellenbosch Chardonnay embodies their house style. Apricot, coconut and orange peel aromas followed by flavours of marzipan, sponge cake and citrus rounded off with carefully-judged oak and balanced, fresh acidity.

Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classically balanced and complex wines in its own voice, and that from the right sites and with perseverance, the results could equal anything made the world over. Through fads and trends, Montelena has never changed in its philosophy of bringing the sunshine of California in a style that is structured, balanced and age worthy. In 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris”, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in a blind tasting with a who’s-who of the French food and wine industry judging. And as they say, the rest is history. The wine opens with fresh peach, apricot, and honeydew amidst citrus blossom and rose water. The diversity of aromas in this vintage is astounding as the floral characteristics begin to take center stage with time in the glass along with ample fresh pear and cinnamon. The palate is lush viscous, and driven by lemon curd, the palate leans toward creaminess but with enough bright acid, green apple, and toast to bring balance and finesse. The ripeness of the vintage drives the mouthfeel as the flavors exude freshness and vibrancy, a unique combination. The finish is concentrated and persistent, again stone fruit appear, albeit in candied form, along with a hint of white pepper and plenty of orange zest.

This family-run domain, based in Meursault, was created by Julien Coche in 1940 and began as just one hectare of vines. His son Alain took over from him and earned a high reputation from the vintages he produced in the 1980s and 1990s, and Alain's own son Fabien has been involved since 1995 and now oversees the day-to-day running of the domaine. The family now has 12 hectares, located not only in Meursault but also Pommard, Auxey-Duresses, Monthélie, Saint-Romain, Saint-Aubin and Puligny-Montrachet. Impressively, 60% of the vines are over 60 years old. The vines are planted on a mixture of limestone, clay and marl, with chalkier soils found on Meursault's east-facing hillsides. No herbicides have been used since 2004, and rye grass is planted in between each row of vines to encourage higher competition. Meursault Chevalieres 2018 The Meursault Chevalières – from vines located just below Luchets and above Meix Chavaux – is a hedonistic treat offering all the best from Meursault. It’s rich yet vivid, really shining in 2018 with the full-bodied village style one finds in Chevalières and its neighbouring vineyards. The fruit is generous – yellow and white – perfectly ripe and very lively and energetic.

A masterpiece of subtlety, and class, and poise. I hope I don't sound like a wine snob by saying I guess you need to have enjoyed the Greats of white wine such as Grand Cru Chablis to 'get' where this fits in. They could easily have made a blockbuster Chard, or an oaky beast, but this is fine, so fine. Smells like crushed marble and distant pine trees. Not cheap, admittedly, but treat yourself to a glass a night over four or five days (it opens up remarkably). I've always been a fan and rated them the best of 15 Tuscan estates I visited back in 2000. Parker: 91 pts. 'The Fèlsina 2017 Chardonnay I Sistri is a medium-bodied white wine with equal parts exotic fruit, toast and spice. The oak-driven notes here resemble pastry crust and sweet custard cream. This is a very well-executed and finely crafted wine with balanced thickness, acidity and fruitiness that ultimately find harmony in the glass. Serve it with some Florentine gnudi: spinach and ricotta balls.'

Jancisrobinson.com previous vintage 17/20 "Lovely smoky nose... Bags of intense, rich citrus fruit, so pure and deep. Tastes amazing with sushi and soy sauce, brings out the savoury side of the wine, and the delicious mealy, creamy texture"

The only vines that go into the father and son team Vincent & Francois Jouard estate bottlings are old vines (over 50 years). The Vieilles Vignes wines are aged using 1/3 new oak from the best barrel-makers.

"Fine perfume and white flowers on the nose, with a delicate crushed rock aspect. The palate has an adroit, linear build, with a crunchiness of fruit and a rigorous backbone of acidity. This is mineral-driven, with a lovely saline precision. Only eight barrels were made, two of which were new. " Domaine Jacques Prieur, owned by the Labruyère family, has perhaps the most exceptional holdings of any domaine in Burgundy. Organic, Biodynamic.