Going through my CT records, I see that I have consumed quite a few Chardonnay based wines this year to date, but all from Burgundy, Jura or Champagne. My TNs are shown below. I need to find some from other French regions or abroad to post on this month but it won’t be too easy here.
NV Champagne Lallier Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (8/11/2019)I have been opening Champagne bottles for many years without losing any wine but this bottle was almost explosive and I lost close to a couple of glasses. This was reflected in a very prickly drink which no longer had the poise of the previous bottle. I wondered about calling it flawed but it was still drinkable.
2016 Rijckaert F.Rouve Arbois Arbois Haute Cuvée - France, Jura, Arbois (7/4/2019)A delicious Jura Chard medium bodied, linear in shape, full of gracious white fruit, fine minerals and mouth-watering acidity leading to a saline finish. Drunk outside on a warm evening, it withstood inevitable warming without becoming flabby. Very good.
2016 Domaine Vocoret et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (6/8/2019)Very similar to the bottle of 18 months ago with perhaps a slightly more caressing texture but no significant loss of vigour, minerality and backbone. It showed itself very versatile with pairings revealing different facets with buttery oysters, sea bass and various cheeses both goat and cow. Very good.
2014 William Fèvre Petit Chablis - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Petit Chablis (5/25/2019)Leaner and less fruity than Petit-Chablis Le Croux 2016, but still very enjoyable in a mineral vein with saline backbone. Good.
2016 Chanson Père & Fils Viré-Clessé - France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Viré-Clessé (5/12/2019)Medium bodied with nice minerality but not very interesting fruit.
2017 Domaine Trouillet Mâcon-Solutre - France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Mâcon-Solutre (4/26/2019)Not bone dry with a discreet honeyed undertow but enough fresh, mainly citrus, white fruit, minerals and acidity to produce a refreshing and very agreeable wine. I doubt whether there is much mileage in this wine but good right now.
NV Legras & Haas Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (4/21/2019)A very nice BdeB Champagne from Chouilly with livelier fruit and more structure than many without sacrificing minerality and biscuit notes. Very good.
2017 Domaine Trouillet Pouilly-Loché Les Mûres - France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Loché (3/8/2019)I was convinced that I had enjoyed and posted a TN on this wine but can find no trace of it nor of its purchase and consumption. I must be hallucinating but the wine was exactly what I thought I remembered - medium bodied with juicy white and citrus fruit, lively fine minerals, a slightly candied undertow and moreish acidity and backbone. Still a touch simplistic but very young so it should still develop. Good.
2016 Domaine Trouillet Pouilly-Fuissé - France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé (2/1/2019)Even better than before with more depth and complexity. Furthermore it showed enough backbone to stand up to a cognac laced sauce accompanying Madagascar prawns and it revealed new honey tinged subtlety with Valençay goat cheese. Very good.
2016 William Fèvre Petit Chablis Le Crioux - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Petit Chablis (1/20/2019)Though only "petit", this is IMO a model entry level Chablis. Medium/light bodied with aromas of white and citrus fruit infused with pebbles carrying forward from the nose onto the palate where moreish acidity and steely backbone are also present. Very good.
2016 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Blanc Collonge - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais (1/5/2019)Where have the iodine notes and savoury character gone? I wouldn't recognise this wine from my memory and previous TN. And it is better. More recognisably from Chardonnay with a delightful fragrance, minerality and gently saline backbone which paired beautifully with scallops and with goat cheese and even stood up to Stilton even though that combination is not ideal. Very good.