Francois Mikulski Bourgogne Cote d’Or Blanc 2023 750ml

86-89 This is aromatically similar to the Hautes Côtes cuvées if perhaps just a bit more floral in character. On the palate though there is better volume and density to the middle weight while displaying a similar vivacity on the succulent, attractively vibrant and bitter lemon-inflected finale. This is worth checking out for value.

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• 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.