Fruity, attractive and delicious: The 7 best Burgundy wines
OUR expert hails Burgundy’s classic whites as the belles of France.
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Burgundy, one of the world’s most famous wine regions, is the home of the chardonnay grape variety. Here, it makes wines ranging from the super expensive and sublime to more affordable and very drinkable. I’ve chosen seven bottles that I think give a good reflection of what this magical French region is capable of.
Asda Extra Special White Burgundy 2014 £9, Asda, 13% alcohol
This white Burgundy is a mix of fruit from Côte de Beaune and Mâconnais, and it’s very attractive with delicious pears and peaches as well as some nutty depth. It’s fabulously fruity.
Guillemot-Michel Viré-Clessé Quintaine 2014 £21.20, tanners-wines.co.uk (01743 234455), 13% alcohol
Here’s a sophisticated wine that’s worth a splurge and has plenty of flavour, but hasn’t seen any oak. It’s nutty, broad and textured with nice depth of pears and ripe apples.
Domaine Gérard Thomas Saint-Aubin Blanc 1er Cru 2013 £23 or £20.70 each if you buy six, Majestic, 13% alcohol
This is a benchmark white Burgundy: spicy and powerful. It has moreish pear flavours, a citrus edge and subtle notes of fennel adding real interest. It’s lovely stuff.
Chatel-Buis Montagny 2013 £12.99, Waitrose, 13% alcohol
I really like this fruit-driven white Burgundy, which is supple, fruity and bright with rounded citrus fruit and a zesty lemony edge.
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Baronne de Saint Jean Mâcon Azé 2014 £9, Morrisons, 12.5% alcohol
Aged on the lees (dead yeast cells) after fermentation to add complexity, this is nutty and rounded with gorgeous citrus fruit and pears. There’s also a bit of spicy complexity.
Blason de Bourgogne Montagny 2012 £10, Sainsbury’s, 13% alcohol
This is textured with some spiciness and ripe apple and pear flavours. It’s a rounded white with nutty richness.
Florent Rouve Viré-Clessé Vieilles Vignes 2014 £13.50, Marks & Spencer, 13% alcohol
From the Mâconnais area in the south of the region, this is a tight, fresh white Burgundy with a pleasant pithy edge to the citrus and pear fruit. There’s attractive detail to the flavour.