Xavier Monnot Bourgogne Blanc Les Grandes Coutures 2023 750ml

Chardonnay Les Grandes Coutures is from three plots bordering Meursault with vine ages from 15 to 51 years. Soils are predominantly argile (clay), bringing weight and texture to this Bourgogne Blanc. The wine was aged from 12 to 14 months in 15-20% percent new French oak. Wines from Meursault are typified by aromas and flavors of ripe melon, hazelnut, and lemon custard, and tend to be broader and more textural than wines from neighboring villages. Aging in 15-20% percent small French oak barrels lends notes of toast and vanilla.

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White
• Alcohol by Vol: 13.0%

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.