French Wine

White Burgundy

White Burgundy, with a few exceptions, is 100% Chardonnay. They have been growing Chardonnay in Burgundy since the 12th century, about 1000 years. No wonder, then, that White Burgundies are considered to be some of the finest Chardonnays in the world.

The most famous of the White Burgundies come from the Grand Cru vineyards of Montrachet, (Le Montrachet, Batard Montrachet, Bienvenue Batard Montrachet, Crios Batard Montrachet and Chevalier Montrachet) and the village and premier cru vineyards of Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Meursault, all in the Cote de Beaune.

White Burgundy production encompasses more than just that small area. The great Chardonnay wines of Burgundy begin in Chablis to the far north, and spread through the Cote d'Or, the Cote Chalonnaise, and the Macon in the south.

The traditional style of Chardonnay in Chablis is a dry, crisp, minerally wine. As one travels south, the wines generally pick up weight and richness, without the tropical flavors found in many New World Chardonnays, reaching their peak in the Cote de Beaune. More southerly vineyards are similarly styled, but rarely reach those heights in terms of concentration or complexity. The wines of the Macon are the most affordable White Burgundies, and those coming from villages such as Pouilly Fuisse, Pouilly Vinzelle, and St. Veran are often stunning in their own right.