Organic. Over the years, this iconic white has emerged as one of the Loire Valley's most exciting Chenin Blancs. Fruit for l'Insolite traditionally comes from two densely planted vineyards on clay and limestone soils riddled with sandstone and flint. The oldest vines are 90 years old. These lieux-dits—Les Cerpes and Saint-Vincent—lie close to the town of Saumur. In recent years, the wine has included fruit from several other plots dotted around the commune. Germain slowly presses the bunches before the juice ferments naturally in 1,200-litre Stockinger ovals and 600-litre casks (ex-Alphonse Mellot). The wine rests on fine lees for another 12 months, slowly building texture before bottling. Germain thinks of this wine as the Loire's answer to German Riesling, hence the name, which means 'unusual'. It’s another wonderful release, rippling with fleshy stone fruit texture, citrus pith, smoky minerality and a food-friendly phenolic bite. The finish is vinous and sappy with a punchy, taut, gently powdery structure and salty mineral close—the hallmark of this iconic wine.

The Beechworth terroir has a distinctive fruit character of pear/peach fruit. The oak has minimal impact by using older French oak and mainly puncheons. The warm year has meant less citrus lift but has bran meal notes from the wild ferment and extended lees contact. The palate is quite rich with zesty acid line through to the finish. Drinking well now but will improve with further bottle age. Maybe leave the 2012 and 2013 for a couple more years and enjoy this in its place. Enjoy with Seafood to light meats.

This unfiltered Chardonnay was made at Giaconda by Rick Kinzbrunner using traditional techniques. Quite sublime buttery richness with perfect balance of acid and oak integration.

Since the early 90's, Penfolds have been producing Chardonnay from the cool climate region of Tumbarumba. The Chardonnay is elegant with white florals, stone fruits and a great acidity structure. Maturation in French Oak gives the Bin 311 a subtle nutty savoury flavour through and through. A great all season wine for all sorts of occasions.

FABIEN COCHE, Bourgogne Chardonnay Grandes Coutures

Domaine du Roc Des Boutires En Bertilionne , Pouilly-Fuissé The fruit is sourced exclusively from En Bertilionne, located in the southern end of Burgundy. 0.57 hectares of limestone with shoals of marl, very deep chalk. The old vines (35-years), or vielles vignes, of Chardonnay are planted at an altitude of between 250 and 500 meters, which is quite high compared to other AOC Burgundies. The result is mature, well-positioned vines producing fruit that creates wines of complexity and freshness.

This Bourgogne Blanc comes from parcels situated exclusively within the Meursault commune and bordering the land classified as Appellation Meursault Villages. The soil is a clay limestone mix and the subsoil is gravel. As with our Villages and Premiers Crus parcels, the soil is ploughed and partially grassed. The wine-making and maturing processes are identical to those of our Villages and Premiers Crus wines.

Derwent Estate Calcaire Chardonnay offers a complex bouquet of lime, nuts and gentle spice. This modern style of Chardonnay offers a creamy palate of citrus fruits and white pears enhanced by hints of butterscotch and fine grained oak. The finish is clean and marked by citrus flavours.

Houghton made wine for 101 years before Jack Mann created the iconic, and incredibly influential, White Burgundy in 1937. In 2023, more than 80 years on, Houghton honoured this history with the release of this exquisite old vine chenin blanc from Margaret River. With a foot in the past and an eye on the future, EV/37 represents chenin blanc at its best—vibrant, delicate, layered, textural.