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 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 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 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 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 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 Hartford Court from Sonoma County, California. Although this inaugural vintage of Hartford Court Four Hearts Chardonnay has a weighty texture with spicy and layered flavors, it finishes with a brightness that reflects the cool climate origins of the stellar vineyards that comprise this new release. Complex aromas and flavors of white peach, citrus blossom, Asian pear and candied lemon give way to a rich and weighty mid-palate, followed by a very long, exotic spice-infused finish.

White Wine by Grgich Hills from Napa Valley, California. The Wine News Chardonnay of the Year! A classy Chardonnay in every respect, offering enticing aromas of acacia blossom, ripe Meyer lemon, honeysuckle, a touch of minerality and a modest dusting of French oak. Full bodied and elegant on the palate with excellent acid balance and expansive flavors of citrus, pear, quince, green apple and spice, this crisp, complex, food-friendly wine remains lively in the mouth, thanks to the absence of malolactic fermentation and the judicious use of French oak (one-third new); long, lemony close. This is the first vintage that our Chardonnay is estate grown, meaning we control everything from the vineyard to the bottle. The grapes were grown organically at our American Canyon and Carneros vineyards, where the coolness allows the grapes to develop complex flavors while maintaining a pleasing natural acidity. We do not allow the Chardonnay to undergo malolactic fermentation. This preserves the wine's crispness and acidity to balance its concentrated fruit. Our full-bodied, elegant Chardonnay has fresh aromas of acacia and citrus flowers, honey and a touch of mineral. All of our vineyards are biodynamically farmed, an agricultural philosophy that incorporates all of the elements of organic farming, using no artificial pesticides, fertilizers, or fungicides. Additionally, it treats the Earth as a living organism and utilizes nature's basic life forces to bring about balance between the grapevines and the Earth.

White Wine by Philip Shaw from Australia. A brilliant clear gold color with green highlights. Complex aromas of lemon, spring blossom, and dried fig with notes of grapefruit. Delightfully refreshing! The palate delivers racey fruit with a mineral spine, creamy oak, cashews, and pear with a long elegant lemon acidity. Firm but not hard, velvet. She is a gorgeous elegant young lady, sure to age gracefully. No.11 is my dream Chardonnay plot. It slopes to the south, away from the sun making it one of the coolest sites in the vineyard - ideal for Chardonnay. - Philip Shaw

White Wine by Catena from Argentina, South America. In an effort to produce a super premium wine, the winemaking team of Catena began in depth investigations into the yields within each of their specially selected, high altitude vineyards, identifying those lots which produce the best fruit. These vines undergo a careful thinning process, leaving only a select few clusters, resulting in remarkably complex, aromatic and flavorful fruit. Through the application of natural, gentle vinification techniques, these grapes are transformed into Catena Alta. The 2005 Catena Alta Chardonnay has a bright yellow - greenish color. The nose offers white stone fruits with a touch of banana and mango, notes of sweet spice and pan grille. The mouthfeel is full and rich, but with wonderful freshness, showing ripe pear and fig flavors with light notes of tropical fruit and delicate floral tones. The finish is long and lingering with wonderful minerality and clean, crisp acidity.

White Wine by Matanzas Creek from Sonoma County, California. A first glimpse of the wine reveals a pale, straw color, quite typical for a sophisticated Chardonnay. The first nose brings a delicate blend of green apple, white peach, and acacia flower, with a surprising addition of the autumn fruits pear and quince. After a swirl, the second nose reveals a more mineral note of crushed stones, the mark of an exceptional Chardonnay. The palate is round and velvety with a prolonged, flavorful finish of honey and melon. There is also a unique and subtle hint of smoke, derived from basalt, an ancient ocean floor rock found in Bennett Valley's soil. Although this Chardonnay was crafted with 95% malolactic fermentation, it is far from a heavy, buttery wine. Fran?ois strives to create an elegant wine which is expressly crafted to complement the food. In addition, he is able to preserve the fullest potential of the Chardonnay fruit by employing a Champagne-style vinification that is gentle on the fruit during crush and prevents any bitter note in the finish. If allowed to age, this wine promises to further increase in minerality and develop a luscious, butterscotch character.

White Wine by Chateau St. Jean from Sonoma County, California. Classic winemaking techniques such as sur lie aging for 17 months are used for this wine. Each lot is kept separate throughout the winemaking process and aged in 100% French oak (57% new). A barrel selection from each lot is made to craft the final blend. Due to the large percentage of Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay in this blend, only 50% of the final blend underwent malolactic fermentation as the Robert Young Chardonnay component is kept a nonmalolactic wine. This medium-bodied Reserve Chardonnay opens with pleasing aromas of Bosc pear, lemon candy and nutmeg. Unctuous notes of creamy lemon bar and kiwi fruit are backed by subtle hints hazelnut, baking spice and mineral characters. The well-balanced acidity and complexity of flavors lead to a lengthy lemon oil finish. - Margo Van Staaveren, Winemaker