France

The climate here is perfect for ripening the fruit while maintaining plenty of zingy acidity, so it’s no wonder why rows of Sauvignon extend as far as the eye can see, interrupted only by the Loire Valley’s splendid châteaux and the meandering river itself.

From 70-year-old vines, Lorenzon's 2015 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Barraults Blanc is eminent, spreading out in the glass with notes of mirabelle plum, new peach and white blossoms.

Saint Roch Vieilles Vignes Blanc is an elegant white wine from Côtes du Roussillon, crafted from Grenache Blanc and Roussanne grapes. It offers vibrant aromas of citrus, white flowers, and hints of minerality, delivering a crisp and refreshing finish.

The excellent 2016 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Cras Vieilles Vignes Cuvée Claude Denogent offers up aromas of ripe pears, confit citrus, vanilla pod and mint, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered palate that's deep and powerful but more structured than the voluptuous Clos Reyssié, built around ripe acids and chalky dry extract.

Thibaud Boudignon has gone through the three stages of small-producer cultdom. First, there were the tweets and instagram posts. Maybe a foreign blog or small magazine article. The allusions to his wine were rapturous, but enigmatic and mostly from overseas.

The estate
A 4th Classified Growth of Saint-Julien, Chateau Talbot is one of the iconic references of Haut-Medoc. Acquired by Desire Cordier in 1918, Chateau Talbot is today managed by Nancy Bignon-Cordier and her husband, Jean-Paul Bignon.

This Meursault is pale yellow in color with green highlights and a subtle and fresh nose of citrus fruits and vanilla, with some oak adding a certain complexity. It is still quite tight on the back-palate.

At the very top of the Côte de Beaune between the villages of Meursault and Puligny, a few vineyard rows abut the forest known as the Bois de Blagny. Conditions are slightly cooler due to the elevation and the proximity to these woods, and the soil is chock-full of blocks of limestone.

Boxler is widely considered one of the top producers in Alsace, although this small, meticulously run estate is often overshadowed by its larger, more famous neighbors (Trimbach, Humbrecht etc.). But that suits current winemaker/proprietor Jean Boxler just fine.

The Chavy Martin Bourgogne Chardonnay 2021 is a refined white wine from Burgundy, France, showcasing the elegance of Chardonnay. With its crisp acidity and notes of citrus, apple, and subtle oak, it delivers a perfectly balanced flavor profile.

Fourth-generation vigneron Bruno Colin is privileged to work some of the most prestigious sites in his home village of Chassagne-Montrachet. The house style could be described as a classical expression of these great climats, offering loads of Burgundian terroir with lovely texture, class, and precision.

Puligny Montrachet Premier Cru "La Truffière" from Domaine Colin is produced in small quantities and has a beautiful upright character and a sublime mineral balance.

Notes of lime and lemon pith, some herbaceous notes, a touch of saline, earthy minerals, followed by a bit of white peach with mouth-watering acidity and a moderately long finish.

Elegant Sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley. Notes of pear and citrus. This Pouilly Fumé shows pale yellow with a pronounced bouquet of white currants. It is dry, lively and fresh with well-defined fruit. Grown on the opposite bank from Sancerre, this wine is a little more complex and flowery than Sancerre.