Domaine Faiveley Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019 750ml

94-96 The 2019 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru conveys much more terroir expression on the nose, offering chalk dust and wet limestone aromas; great intensity here. The taut, fresh palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a mineral-driven finish and commendable persistence. This is a step above the Bienvenues this year and it should age with style. Bon vin!

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Appellation: Cote De Beaune
• Sub Appellation: Batard Montrachet
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.