Elusive, elegant and expensive, there is no better time to indulge in great white burgundy than during the summer.
Chardonnay is originally from France’s Burgundy region, where the best white Burgundies are powerful and rich, with complex fruit flavors and notes of earth and minerals. More affordable Chardonnays from Burgundy-for instance, those simply labeled Bourgogne Blanc-are crisp and lively, with apple and lemon flavors.
The most famous of the White Burgundies come from the Grand Cru vineyards of Montrachet, and the village and premier cru vineyards of Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Meursault, all in the Cote de Beaune.
White Burgundy production encompasses more than just that small area. The great Chardonnay wines of Burgundy begin in Chablis to the far north, and spread through the Cote d’Or, the Cote Chalonnaise, and the Macon in the south.
Pair Chardonnays in the leaner Burgundian style with roasted chicken or seafood; the more voluptuous New World Chardonnays pair well with pasta dishes made with cream or cheese, with lobster or other rich seafood and with Asian dishes that include coconut milk.
Wine made from the Chardonnay grape is far and away the most popular wine in the world, enjoyed by novice and sophisticated connoisseur alike. And if you are one of them and have never experienced the superb perfection it can achieve in Burgundy, you owe it to yourself to explore this rarefied world.
White Burgundy Wine selection are now available at The Oaks Cellars