From the Côte Chalonnaise, which lies south of the Côte d’Or, and though considered part of Burgundy, it does not contain any Grand Cru vineyards. I suppose this makes it a poorer cousin, but it can be keenly priced and for those not obsessed with having “Meursault”, “Puligny” or “Chassagne” on the label, can provide a rewarding experience.

Anyways, on to the wine, which is a cracker. Strongly aromatic, with lemon and white peach, vanilla and cream and a touch of nuttiness. The palate showed grapefruit, lemon, spice and cream. There is a lot of sweet fruit running through the mid-palate, but this is balanced by a fine line of acid and a drying mineral edge. Focused, with great length, and positively gnawish. For a French White Burgundy retailing at $50 or thereabouts, it offers tremendous value and excellent quality.

Rated : 90 Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $50
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2015
Source : Eurocentric Wine
Website : Stephane Aladame

Opened last night, initially as some pre-red wine entertainment while I was cooking dinner, but in the end proved to be too good to dismiss and became the main feature. I should have known: the 2004s have been crackers across the board. White fruits, hard green fruits, crushed rocks, hints of lemons and pretty white florals. On the palate, soft and rounded lemony fruits with pears, oyster shells, slate and minerals. Tremendous depth of fruit, a full mouthfeel without any oiliness or overripe character, and most excellent length. Should age well, but is utterly delicious now.

Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : Oct09
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $100
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2010-2015
Source : Cellar
Website : William Fevre

I opened this last night to have with some tasty Thai food. An explosive nose that I could smell half way across the room, showing glossy lemons, grapefruit with a hint of slightly unripe pineapple and a touch of spice and gunpowder. The palate displayed bigger flavours, without any overly ripe characters, lemons and meal, expanding through the mid-palate and finishing with grapefruit, sour lemons, a knob of butter and some minerally dryness. A very intriguing wine, silky and texturally pleasing, nuanced and showing some excellent length. Can I have some more please?

Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Oct09
Alcohol : 13.2%
Price : $35
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2010-2014
Source : Boccaccio Cellars
Website : Hoddles Creek

I’ve had the new Cabernets a couple of times; now for the Chardonnay. Typically this wine sells out very quickly, and it is not surprising because it is usually so damn good. This vintage is no different. A sexy and complex nose: peaches and melons, cashews, with a touch of lime juice and a hint of bubblegum. The palate is fleshy and opulent, with lemons and peaches, musky and excellent weight. I feel happy just drinking it. Finishes with some vanilla and nuts. A lovely wine.

Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Jun09
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $55
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2014
Source : Cellar Door
Website : Lakes Folly

I don’t drink much white wine, but when I do I try to knock myself out and pick something from the good pile. Now I’ve tried a couple of other Moreau ’04 Chablis, and they were ok but nothing great; this one was lovely. Lots of stuff going now on the nose, with yellow melons, oatmeal, asparagus stalks and salt-spray. The palate was nicely structured, green fruits and oyster shells, glossy lemons, showing power and body right through the palate to a lemon and grapefruit finish. Effortless drinking.

Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Oct08
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $80
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2008-2014
Source : Cellar

I needed a change of pace the other night so decided to tuck into a bottle of Chablis. A classically reserved nose, with oyster shells, hard green fruits, spice, and just a touch of ripe asparagus, but nothing herbaceous. The palate displayed wonderfully tight peaches and yellow fruits, a bit of musk and preserved lemon, all with a flinty and minerally finish. It is structured, possessing tremendous mouthfeel and persistence, power with restraint, purity and beautiful length. A wine for which time stops; I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Aug07
Alcohol : 13.0%
Price : $100
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2007 – 2014+
Source : Cellar

I didn’t know I had any of these left, but I found one the other day and decided to serve it blind against a white burgundy and see if my lunch companion would be fooled. Well he wasn’t certain, but he was leaning towards New World, and it certainly was a contrasting style to the other chardonnay. A big nose, honeydew melon and cashews, green fruits and some vanilla. The palate was expansive, full and flavoursome, ripe fruits with some fine acid keeping it all together, and a touch of spicy oak. Nicely balanced and great length, as would be hoped with a benchmark wine like this. Drinking well done, but I suppose you could cellar it further depending on how developed you like your chardonnays.

Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Jan07
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $50
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2007 – 2009+
Source : Cellar
Website : Leeuwin Estate

I was quite excited about trying this wine, and when I accidentally dented the screwcap on arrival I was required to drink it immediately, not that it was a chore by any means.

A really classy nose: lemon, melon, minerals, nuts and cream – simple descriptors that don’t sound impressive but I can just smell the depth of fruit and I can sense the power. The palate is tight, lean and restrained, pure fruits with fine lemon and grapefruit acid; I can feel the hum of a V8 engine under the hood. This could be a Chablis or a White Burgundy I reckon – is that too bold a statement? I think it would be a very good options wine. A very impressive effort – I think I will have to break my wine moratorium for this one. Give it a couple of years to unwind.

Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Nov06
Alcohol : 13.0%
Price : $52
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2008 – 2014
Source : Winery Sample

I was grubbing around and found some old tasting notes; I usually write them on scraps of paper that are occasionally misplaced, or lost forever. Anyway, I found some on this wine, and I thought it was worthwhile posting a note. I have seen this wine a couple of times in the past few months and both times it has showed terrifically well. A lean and restrained nose, combining apples and unripe pears, and herbs like nettles and oregano. The palate is fine stonefruits, some spice and lemon, powerful and compelling, a wine that lings in the imagination. Sometimes words aren’t enough. Every bit as good as the 2002, maybe even better. Don’t touch for 5 years or so.

Rated : 95 Points
Tasted : Oct06
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $210
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2011 – 2018
Source : The Wine Emporium