Chardonnay

The interloper, courtesy of Tina! Really interesting to drop this in after some very good Champagnes. The acidity really stands out (though not unbalanced). …

Also a mature vintage Champagne, and ultimately the wine of the sparkling line-up = just had more refinement and length than Le Mesnil. Mid-deep …

Good quality, mature vintage Blanc de Blancs. Complex tertiary development of mushroom, nutty almond and toast on the nose, over creamy vanilla and cereal. …

A first chance to taste Kumeu River’s wines, and they’re certainly aiming for quality. Characterised by new oak, ripe, but linear fruit on the …

By contrast, although this was clearly Californian, its Sonoma restraint was evident, compared with the Shafer. Vanilla ice cream – very oaky. Caramel and …

This is, simply put, classic Napa Chardonnay – everything turned up to 11. Deep, deep gold. Powerfully buttery, new oak aromatics. Vanilla and very …

Ripeness of fruit is definitively New World. However, the restraint and balanced use of oak shows the class of Margaret River Chardonnay. Pale gold. …

But this was the star of the show – maybe not £88 great, but really showed its class. Fennel herb, celery, cream, chalky, lees, …

Similar fennel, cream and yellow fruit profile, broadly, as the 1er cru, but without such fruit intensity or length. Oak further in the background, …

A lovely way to see in both Christmas and New Years. This is another example of Jacquesson’s 7– series showing its quality. Particularly evident …