White Burgundy Case

This is situated high on a slope where there is a shallow limestone soil. It results in a fresh, taut, mineral style with fresh, lemony core even in a warm year like 2022. Fermented and then matured for seven months in 350-litre barrels. 'Cra' is a derivation from craie, which is limestone in French. The vineyard comprises 4.5 ha of vines with an average age of 25 years and planted at 7500/ha. Frédéric Burrier has improved the viticulture, ploughing the vineyard to cut the superficial roots, encouraging them to descend into the soil where they mitigate the problems of flood or drought.

This is a rich, gentle wine with a natural concentration coming from 1.5ha of vines principally planted in the 1930s, 1945, 1947 and a little in the 1980s. Fermented and matured for seven months in a combination of a wooden vat (43hl) and 228-litre barrels. Its satisfying richness makes for a happy marriage with Parmesan-and-lemon-crusted chicken breasts or firm white fish. The wine won’t be fazed by the umami depth or the lemony zing.

The Talmard family name has been involved in wine production since the 17th century, and it was the current generation`s grandfather, Joseph, that planted some of the current Talmard vineyards at the family`s home base Uchizy. Joseph`s son Paul Talmard led the next generation. He used to deliver his grapes to the local co-operative at Chardonnay, but in 1971 he withdrew, believing he could make better wine under his own domaine name. His wines went from strength to strength, and in 1997 he appointed his daughter Mallory and her husband Benjamin as chief winemakers. They have taken full control in recent years, and continue to run the winery with Paul`s philosophy and values. This is a lovely example of the plump ripe and round style of unoaked chardonnay from the Mâconnais. The grapes are cool fermented in stainless-steel tanks and kept on their fine yeast lees until bottling in the spring following the vintage.

Ripe and concentrated wine from the lovely 2023 vintage. It has aromas of apples and melons and a fresh and clean finish. Tank fermented and kept on its yeast lees for around nine months to contribute some richness to the mid-palate. Showing excellent complexity and value, this strikes a very pleasing balance between freshness and breadth.

Fermented and matured in a 20hl foudre to allow development of flavour from the oxygen which enters the wine through the staves of the foudre yet moderating the oak influence, this is a beautifully balanced and harmonious white Burgundy on the melon spectrum of fruit flavours.

A fine, dry white Burgundy from the Mâconnais in southern Burgundy, the warmest part of the region. The wine is ripe and round, with flavours of apple and stone fruit, a hint of citrus and a lovely streak of minerality. The quality of the wine reflects the deep involvement in its selection by successive buyers and the skill of our ‘man on the ground`, Jean-Marc Darbon, who excels in sourcing the right blending options for us to work with. The zander (sandre in French) thrives in the rivers of Burgundy and is shown on this wine`s new label. It has a fine flavour because its carnivorous and so is much superior to that of weed-eating fish. It`s as good as wild brown trout to eat and appears frequently on menus in Burgundian restaurants. Don`t hesitate to try it.