As ever a distinguished wine, with a particular texture engendered by its citrussy acidity: the heavy lifting is provided by the immaculate white peach and pink grapefruit of a palate that is intense yet delicate, delicacy stemming from the way the wine flows through the mouthfeel and long finish.

DOMAINE DU CHATEAU DE MEURSAULT Clos du Chateau, Bourgogne Blanc

HARTFORD WINES Hartford Court Sevens Bench Chardonnay, Carneros

Surrounded by Chablis vineyards on all sides, the family estate was founded in 1973 by Jean-Marc Brocard, who has since been joined by his son Julien. The estate spans almost 200 hectares, 66 of which are certified organic. Of all the Chablis Grands Crus, Vaudésir is the most delicate. Its lively, elegant character is utterly seductive. The slopes of the Vaudésir valley are steep and allow the grapes to express refined minerality. Appearance: Yellow with green glints. Nose: Precise and charming with toasted brioche aromas and orange and lemon notes. Palate: Refined and velvety with buttery notes. A powerful and persistent wine.

This wine is a perfect example of a classic Chablis 1er Cru. Its exposure to a relatively cool morning sun ensures its elegance and enhances its minerality & richness drawn from the calcare-ous and clay subsoil. It has a rich yellow gold color with green hints and its nose reveals aromas of mint & pineapple. Its flavours are full & freshness dominates, with a long persistent finish.

Domaine Lamy-Pillot 1er Cru En Creot, Saint Aubin Domaine Lamy-Pillot is a small family-run winery, established in 1973, which counts as relatively youthful for the region. The wines of Lamy-Pillot are consistent and drinkable in the very best sense. The 1er Cru En Creot hails from one of Saint Aubins higher sites. Lamy-Pillot describe this Chardonnay as a fat and greedy wine, rich with ripe yellow fruit, toasty butter, and honey.

Moreau’s village Chablis is drawn mostly from 20 to 30 year old vineyards in Préhy and Courgis, both in the south of Chablis. Then, there are parcels in Chablis and Chichée (under the Premier Cru Vaugiraut). All up, the domaine has the luxury of working with 30 parcels scattered across the appellation, representing a variety of soil structures and exposures. All the fruit from the younger vines is sold off in bulk, which perennially helps Moreau deliver a Chablis greater than the sum of its parts. The Chablis was picked over various dates, depending on the plot. The fruit was subject to a very gentle four-hour press, and the juice was fermented with natural yeasts (a rarity in Chablis). It was raised mostly in tank, yet the élevage was unhurried. This spent 20 months on lees, considerably longer than most Chablis of this level. These traditional methods, along with hand-harvesting, the quality of the terroir, low yields and the full ripeness levels at which the fruit is harvested help to explain the mouth coating texture, salty depths and the quality that is on offer.

This intensely complex wine is rich in stone fruit, citrus and melon. The creamy texture is perfectly integrated with the sweet oak and natural acidity which leaves a lasting impression on the palate.