Wines and Beyond

White Wine by Chanson from Burgundy, France - regions. Clos des Mouches is ideally located at the Southern end of the vineyards of Beaune on a spur pointing toward Pommard and falling to the plain on the East. Chanson is one of the major owners of Clos des Mouches. This wine is elegant, full-bodied, well-balanced and charming. It develops honey flavours combined with subtle notes of oakiness on the palate. This wine is well-concentrated with a hint of minerality that contributes to its long finish.

White Wine by Joseph Drouhin from Burgundy, France - regions. Admirably situated on a hill between Pommard and Beaune, with a direct southern exposure, Clos des Mouches is one of the most famous Premier Cru vineyards of Beaune. The name Clos des Mouches probably goes back to the beginning of the Middle-Ages (around 1550) because of its slopes facing South/South-East: a very favourable place for keeping bees. The word Mouches (Flies) was actually the local name for bees. As bee keepers started to set up their bee-hives, the area became known as Clos des Mouches (i.e. the Enclosure of the Honey Bees). After the destruction of the Burgundy vineyards due to the phylloxera epidemic of 1875-1880, Clos des Mouches was entirely replanted with Pinot Noir. Having fortunately come across some ancient documents which revealed that the vineyard had previously produced an excellent white wine, Maurice Drouhin, in 1921, began replanting with some Chardonnay. The result was of exceptional quality. To-day, there is an almost equal balance between white and red. Some of the stocks he planted are still alive to-day. They constitute a precious genetic pool, especially when grafted onto superior root-stocks. They are not vigorous and produce tiny berries with a thick skin. The density of plantation is high and the yield is low. Soil doesn't change much in the Clos. Lighter and stony at the top, coloured with broken stones at the bottom, with a good variety of chalky marls bringing complexity. Once harvested, the white grapes are crushed in a pneumatic press. The juice obtained is then fermented in oak barrels for a year during which the malolactic fermentation will take place. Clos des Mouches white is a generous wine combining the body of Corton Charlemagne and the elegance of Montrachet. Its hue is bright, limpid, and pale golden. It has an elegantly perfumed nose of smoky citrus with tinges of vanilla. On the palate, the aromas are reminiscent of honey, almond, lemon and,

White Wine by William Fevre from Burgundy, France - regions. Often seen as the easiest of the grand crus because of its richness, this shows more power due to the vintage. There is now tightness to the ripe structure, with white currant, pear skin and spice flavors. Finishes with sweet acidity. -Wine Enthusiast Lemon peel, anise, menthol and a whiff of spice on the nose. Densely packed and penetrating, with rather austere flavors of crushed stone and lemon. A very elegant grand cru offering lovely ripeness of fruit and a distinctly lacy texture. -International Wine Cellar 92-94

White Wine by William Fevre from Burgundy, France - regions. Using the old name for Bourgros, this is from the steepest portion of the Bourgros vineyard. The pure chalk soil gives it pronouned minerality, and it shows firm structure, with green apples, toast and a ver firm, tight character. This wine fefinitely needs to age; give it 5-8 years. -Wine Enthusiast Pale, green-tinged color. High-pitched nose dominated by minerals and lime. Classic gripping Chablis grand cru, with lemon, mineral and crushed stone flavors given shape and vibrancy by brisk acids. Offers an uncanny combination of seamless texture and tensile strength. Finishes with superb lingering sweetness and terrific snap. Like the Bougros, this was still on its fine lees, in cuve. Great potential here. -International Wine Cellar 93-95

White Wine by Ch. La Nerthe from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. This luxury white cuvee, Clos de Beauvenir (60% Roussanne and 40% Clairette) is named after the original name of the estate in the 16th Century. Selected from the finest parcels of old vines, this wine is truly an elixer in a class by itself. A gloriously perfumed, honeyed wine possessing full body, terrific acidity, tremendous delineation, and a layered texture. A terrific beam of acacia honey and dried pineapple runs through this full-bodied white. with blanched almond, mineral and guava hints. Shows the tropical note of the vintage. but keeps its stony persistence. Drink now through 2007. 330 cases made. Wine Spectator 10/15/2006 The luxury cuvee, the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Clos de Beauvenir (only 500 cases) is stunning, with notes of waxy lanolin, orange blossom, pear, and peach intermixed with white flowers and citrus oil... -Wine Advocate

White Wine by Hanzell from Sonoma County, California. Massive, complex, with amazing depth, an opulent, voluptuous wine of tremendous power and authority. Its so beautiful now, you almost hesitate to cellar it, but these Hanzell Chards are built for the long haul... -Wine Enthusiast Honey and grapefruit, typical markers for Hanzells Chardonnay, are prominent at first, but then behind these are compelling characters of pastry shell (baked butter and flour), a delicate toast character from the barrels, almonds, milk and bread dough. A full, round presence in the mouth is supported by acidity that saves the broad and rich texture from being cloying. This vintage should mature in 2012 and carry through to 2020. - Michael Terrien

White Wine by Hanzell from Sonoma County, California. As this was Michael Terrien's first vintage making the wine, he was focused on determining how Hanzell Chardonnay distinguishes itself in the company of other California Chardonnays. Hanzell's recipe is unique: grapes are crushed before pressing, fermentation occurs in tank rather than barrel, new oak barrels are used only moderately, and malo-lactic fermentation is largely suppressed. The winemaking is so traditional as to be, in an odd way, iconoclast and new. Hanzell recipe honors a lighter winemaking touch and permits clarity of expression. The wine is about place rather than ingredients; traditional, but intentional. Glistening and bright with citrus peel (mostly grapefruit) and bread dough aromas of yeast and wet flour. Subtle flower aromas lift the pear and apple scent and the honeyed, oily richness that develops with bottle age is just beginning to emerge upon the wine's release. Few wineries in California can craft a Chard as rich, balanced and ageworthy as this. In its youth this '05 is flashy in lemondrop, pear and spicy anise, with a honeyed finish and crisp acidity. It's quite addictively brilliant, a wine whose lush harmony mesmerizes the palate. But Hanzell Chards invariably age well, and this is a wine you can dependably put into your cellar for 5, 10, 15 years, even longer, as it continues to evolve and become more limpid and minerally. -Wine Enthusiast

White Wine by Talbott from Central Coast, California. The best barrels from Talbott Chardonnay, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard were reserved and bottled unfined and unfiltered and without cold stabilization, true to the Grand Cru tradition. The resulting wine is concentrated, rich, and opulent with lush mouth feel and spine-tingling structure. This 2003 vintage shows almost unfathomable balance between richness, flavor, and acid. The nose shows lemon, tart pear, white peach, and nectarine with toast and cinnamon notes. On the palate, the wine is lovely, round, and supple with exquisite balance and forward tropical fruit and vibrant acid that lingers through the long finish. While we provide extensive bottle age in the winery cellar before release, we believe this vintage of Cuvee Cynthia will cellar well for five to ten years more.

White Wine by Morey-Blanc from Burgundy, France - regions. Spice-coated nuts are found in the expressive nose of the 2003 Meursault (white). Revealing excellent depth of fruit, this medium-bodied wine unveils a buttered hazelnut-flavored personality. Supple, toasty, and persistent in the finish. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 88 Points

White Wine by Chapoutier from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. Color: Brilliant golden yellow. Aroma: Hints of wine leaves and lily. Taste: Well-balanced and fresh. Candied citrus fruit aromas. Bright, minerally and very focused. Elegant floral, white peach and citrus peel notes race through the lengthy finish, which has great cut. Drink now through 2008. Wine Spectator 91 Points

White Wine by Sonoma Coast Vineyards from Sonoma County, California. The taste profile offers a creme brulee richness in the framework of a fresh, silky acid matrix. The fruit content replicates zesty lemon and fresh pear with a center core of tropical fruit. Malolactic fermentation sur lies results in a graceful and well-structured palate. The aging potential for this wine should be exceptional given the bright acidity and the subtle integration of oak with the wine's complex fruit profile. This wine will evolve dramatically for the next 3 years and will continue to evolve at a more subtle rate for 4-6 years.

White Wine by Rochioli from Russian River, California. Color: Straw yellow. Aroma: Aromas of ripe apple, tropical fruit and a touch of spice. Taste: Rich apple flavors and a crisp acidity.

White Wine by Joseph Drouhin from Burgundy, France - regions. The central part of the Cote de Beaune comprises an area predestined to produce great white wines, and Puligny-Montrachet is certainly one of its most glorious examples. The clay and chalky soil, which is very stony, has good drainage and warms through easily. The Chardonnay is the unique grape variety used to produce these great white wines. The House of Joseph Drouhin brings to the making of these wines its utmost care, in the respect of tradition. The wines of Puligny possess a whole range of very distinguished and distinctive aromas: almond paste, fern, exotic fruits, amber and white flowers. Their acidity on the palate is rather subtle, allowing the intense smoothness and impressive lingering taste to come through. Although the wines are very pleasant when young, they can usually be kept for a long time, 6 to 8 years in a normal vintage, up to 15 years for a great vintage. Due to the refinement of their bouquet and the elegance of their flavours, these great white wines are unquestionably destined to accompany haute cuisine: shellfish cooked in a light wine sauce (court-bouillon) or any delicate fish (such as Dover sole) prepared grilled or poached. The wine should be served no colder than 13?C (57?F). An elegant floral and green fruit nose nuanced by hints of stone and ripe peach dissolves into delicious, harmonious and beautifully pure flavors that are refined and silky, all wrapped in a nicely vibrant and balanced finish. This is a really lovely villages and well worth a look. Burghound 89 Points Recalcitrant aromas of lemon, apple and minerals. Flavors of lime blossom and nuts are somewhat more expressive and full than announced by the nose. Very citrusy close emphasizes the wine's need of time to soften. -Wine News

White Wine by Joseph Drouhin from Burgundy, France - regions. Meursault is situated a few miles South of Beaune. It is a close neighbour of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. The three villages together make up the famous Cote des Blancs in Burgundy. The origin of the name Meursault is somewhat controversial. Some people believe it is derived from the Latin Muris Saltus translated as jump of a mouse. More probably, it comes from an old Celtic root, mare, meaning swamp: the lower part of the village is actually on very flat land. Fortunately, the real appellation area is on chalky soil of a light brown colour, with many broken stones that reflect the sun during the day. It is a dry, poor soil, perfect to grow Chardonnay, the only variety used in this appellation. Meursault is a wine with a luminous gold colour, intense fragrance and refined flavours. It is full bodied without being heavy, with a long lasting finish. Meursault can be served alone as an aperitif with smoked salmon. At dinner, Meursault is recommended with delicate fish dishes, lobster, foie gras or even poultry, as well as fresh goat cheese.

White Wine by Louis Jadot from Burgundy, France - regions. The wines of Puligny-Montrachet are generally characterized by greater firmness and depth than those of Meursault, and by greater refinement and delicacy than those of Chassagne. Maison Louis Jadot vinifies the production of several growers in the commune with which its holds purchase agreements based on the quality of the fruit from harvest to harvest. A traditional vinification in oak casks, the age and origin of which are determined according to the qualities of the vintage, is carried out to enhance the full-fruited depth and seductive bouquet, marked by distinct notes of ripe peaches, for which Puligny-Montrachet is famous. The wine's harmonious elegance persists in the lasting finish.

White Wine by Trimbach from Alsace, France - regions. This famous Riesling comes from the choice slopes of Ribeauville overlooking the Trimbach winery. The exposure is south and southeast. The vines' high average age of some 30 years ensures low yields and concentrated fruit. The clay-limestone soil contains a high proportion of fossil-flecked muschel-kalk, which bangs out all that is best in the Riesling. Cuvee Frederic Emile is made solely frm very ripe grapes, picked selectively at the end of the harvest. Dry and firmly-structured, but very fruity, this multifaceted wine owes its great depth of flavour to the combination of Riesling grapes with ideal soil. After a few years in bottle it reveals a fascinating mineral nuance. This long-lived Riesling bears the name of our great ancestor, Frederic Emile Trimbach. It is prized by connoisseurs for its breed and finesse.

White Wine by Silver from Central Coast, California. For the winemaking team that brings you Caymus, Mer Soleil, and and Belle Glos! This second vintage follows last year's successful debut of Silver, an effort to unite the crisp mineral essence of classic Chablis style with the tropical elements found in Chardonnay of the Pacific coastline. Using Chardonnay grown in special blocks of the Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, we harvested the grapes when just fully ripe, their gold color hued with green, expressing clean aromas of Chardonnay fruit and firm acidity. The result is our latest presentation of a Chardonnay we consider as sleek and cool as Silver. -Charlie Wagner II, Winemaker This unoaked Chardonnay is a light gold color with a pale green tint. Clean, lively aromas of honeydew melon and green apple carry over to delicate tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and papaya, balanced with crisp mineral.

White Wine by Ch?teau Carbonnieux from Pessac-Leognan, France - Bordeaux. 2005 is an excellent vintage possessing high acidity as well as impressive levels of weight, richness, and texture. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 93 Points

White Wine by Cakebread from Napa Valley, California. Cakebread Cellars' Napa Valley Chardonnay is light straw in color with a glint of gold. Its aromas are reminiscent of green apples and the faint scent of apricots with a clean scent of mineral suggestive of flint. These impressions are repeated on the palate with a very slight buttery finish and a subtle hint of French oak vanillin in the background. Good depth with an ideal balance of fruit and crisp acidity lead into a fresh, silky finish.

White Wine by Trimbach from Alsace, France - regions. This famous Riesling comes from the choicest slopes of Ribeauville overlooking the Trimbach winery. The exposure is south and southeast. The vines' high average age of some 30 years ensures low yields and concentrated fruit. The clay-limestone soil contains a high proportion of fossil-flecked muschel-kalk, which bangs out all that is best in the Riesling. Cuvee Frederic Emile is made solely frm very ripe grapes, picked selectively at the end of the harvest. Dry and firmly-structured, but very fruity, this multifaceted wine owes its great depth of flavour to the combination of Riesling grapes with ideal soil. After a few years in bottle it reveals a fascinating mineral nuance. This long-lived Riesling bears the name of our great ancestor, Frederic Emile Trimbach. It is prized by connoisseurs for its breed and finesse.

White Wine by Franciscan from Carneros, California. Crisp and full bodied with a rich, creamy texture. An abundance of pear, sweet vanilla and hints of minerals round out the supple notes of toast, leading to a long, rich finish.

White Wine by Chalk Hill from Sonoma County, California. This is perhaps the most elegant Chardonnay ever produced by Chalk Hill. The wine displays the tropical fruit and mineral characteristics of the estate, and is delicately infused with citrus, pear and honeysuckle, an imprint from the cool vintage conditions.

White Wine by Grgich Hills from Napa Valley, California. Since 1977, Grgich Hills has crafted a food-friendly Chardonnay with crispness and acidity to balance the wine's concentrated fruit. They do not allow the Chardonnay to undergo malolactic fermentation in order to preserve the beautiful acidity and intense fruit that they worked so hard to produce in the vineyard. This elegant Chardonnay has luscious aromas of baked pear, lychee nuts and wild honey with a full and rich mouthfeel and a long finish. The bright acidity and balance of oak and body make it the perfect partner for grilled or roasted seafood, chicken and pork.

White Wine by Beringer from Napa Valley, California. Each Chardonnay lot was kept separate throughout the aging process to retain the individual flavor characteristics. After gentle crushing, Winemaker Laurie Hook fermented the juice in French oak barrels (77 percent new) to enhance the natural richness in the wine. The lees were stirred weekly to develop a nutty-toasty character and fully integrate the oak flavors, encouraging a good balance. All of the wines were put through malolactic fermentation to encourage a lush creaminess. After 9 months aging, Winemaster Ed Sbragia and Winemaker Laurie chose the richest, most expressive lots and blended them to create an intensely aromatic and flavorful wine featuring lemon zest, sweet vanilla, baked apple and spicy oak aromas layered with rich flavors of pineapple, and hints of minerality and spice that lead into a long and bright citrus-infused finish.

White Wine by Ch. St. Jean from Sonoma County, California. The best fruit from Chateau St. Jean's premier vineyards (including Robert Young, Belle Terre, and Durell) is set aside for this Reserve Chardonnay. Great care is taken to create a great bottle of wine, including aging in sur lie for 17 months in French oak barrels, and then bottle aging for an additional year before release.

White Wine by William Fevre from Burgundy, France - regions. A structured, lively and mineral wine with good length on the palate. Both straightforward and fresh, with exemplary concentration. Food pairings: Fish, seafood and shellfish, grilled or in a cream sauce. Poultry and white meat, grilled or in a cream sauce. Pale, green-tinged color. Cool, subtle nose offers quinine, lime, fresh herbs and mint, plus a stony nuance. Silky on the attack, then suave and fresh in the middle, in a distinctly elegant style. Finishes brisk and refined, with a dusty quality and firm mineral spine extending the wine's fruit. Made from a blend of Butteaux, Montmains and Forets: the later-ripening Butteaux parcel always gives this wine its freshness, notes winemaker Didier Seguier. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89-90 Points

White Wine by Werner & Sohn from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany. This world-famous vineyard produces Rieslings that excel with fine fruit and playful elegance. This is the result on the predominant schist-decomposition soil. the pure southward oriented site is an exemplar for the variety of Mosel Rieslings, as the wine lover can find here any type that can be produced within this unique region: From fruity and elegant Kabinett-wines with a good acidic structure up to delicate, noble rot Selections and Berry Selections.