One of the first regions we visited in wine club was Burgundy, home, arguably, to some of the greatest wines in the world, including Chablis, Mersault, Puligny- and Chassagne Montrachet, Nuits St George, and Pouilly Fuisse.
We started with a Cave de Lugny sparkling Burgundy from the Lugny region of Maconnais (grape: Chardonnay). Sarah and Lea (hosting this wine club) have dubbed it a ‘pretendy Krug’ and we all loved it – and have bought it regularly since. It’s biscuity and creamy, and absolutely delicious – and a real bargain at £13.49 from Waitrose or Ocado. Even better value when you get it on one of Waitrose’s regular 20% off deals. If you don’t want to pay Champagne prices, but want something a bit more heavy-hitting than Prosecco or Cava, this is a real winner.
Next, we tried a Pascal Bouchard Chablis 2009 (grape: Chardonnay), a classic Chablis with the recognisable mineral, flinty taste that comes from being aged in stainless steel tanks. Because Chablis is the furthest north region of Burgundy, its cooler climate produces wines with less fruit and more acidity than other Burgundies. £14.99 from Waitrose at the time of tasting.
One of the favourite wines – and the one that tipped me into finally becoming a Chardonnay drinker again – was a St Aubin Premier Cru Domaine Gerard Thomas (2008). St Aubin borders the more famous vineyards of Montrachet, tucked behind a hill that gives it shade in the morning and exposes it to sunshine in the afternoon. It’s a beautiful, rich wine, with just the right amount of oak, and a lovely buttery and nutty taste. At £19.99 from Waitrose and Majestic (although both are now selling the 2011 wine) it is a much cheaper alternative to Montrachet. When you think of what you could spend £20 on in a pub or restaurant, this is a worthwhile and relatively affordable luxury.
The final wine of the night was a red – a Chorey-les-Beaune, Domaine Pascal Maillard, 2008. A lovely Pinot Noir, light-bodied with berry and vanilla flavours; £15.99 from Waitrose. Wine maker Pascal Maillard took Domain Maillard from his father, Daniel, who founded it in 1952.
