Wine With Wanda

Chic & Charming Chardonnay: Cave de Lugny White Burgundy

"I'm a winemaker but also a consumer. Burgundy is the best place for Chardonnay."- Grégoire Pissot, Winemaker, Cave de Lugny

Cave de Lugny winemaker Grégoire Pissot is on a mission to remind us of White Burgundy's many charms. Armed with his affable personality and expressive wines, Grégoire is winning over drinkers one bottle at a time. While Chardonnay may not be the hot new grape in town, Cave de Lugny's wines are a delicious reminder that classic doesn't mean boring or expensive. Well-crafted and affordably priced, Cave de Lugny delivers French ooh la la without breaking the bank.


image courtesy of Cave de Lugny

Founded in 1926, Cave de Lugny is a cooperative of family-owned wine-growing estates in the Mâconnais region in southern Burgundy. The #1 white Burgundy producer in the world, 90% of Cave de Lugny's production is Chardonnay; which they craft in the traditional Burgundy style -- unoaked and on the lees so that the wines are vibrant and complex. They also adhere to strict growing standards and eco-friendly practices. I recently had the pleasure of tasting two Cave de Lugny wines with Grégoire and agree with his assessment that their Chardonnay from the Mâconnais is "easy and very drinkable." But the wines still have tremendous personality and energy.


Cave de Lugny "La Côte Blanche" Chardonnay, Mâcon-Villages 2016 ($13)
Refreshing and luscious with crisp minerality, La Côte Blanche is a delightful introduction to the Cave de Lugny style. Lively flavors of lemon curd and citrus fruits are balanced out by a long dry finish. 


Cave de Lugny "Les Charmes" Chardonnay, Mâcon-Lugny 2016 ($16)
Grégoire describes Les Charmes as "the wine that best expresses Mâcon." Chardonnay grapes for this impressive wine are sourced from a single vineyard, with some vines as old as 35-40 years. Richly textured and with elegantly restrained citrus flavors that are balanced out by hints of spice and honey, Les Charmes offers plenty of finesse and nuance at a great price. 

If you're planning a trip to Burgundy, Cave de Lugny offers wine tourism opportunities. Until then, get to know Cave de Lugny Chardonnay with a bottle of La Côte Blanche or Les Charmes. Cheers! 

Burgundy Bliss: 2016 Is a Beautiful Vintage for Bouchard Pére & Fils

Like a birthday, a vintage commemorates the year grapes were harvested and transformed into wine. Some vintages present challenges, often caused by weather, that make the winemaker's job more difficult and impede the wine's ability to achieve its best and truest expression. (Who among us hasn't had a bad year and prayed for the next to be better?) But when Mother Nature cooperates and provides the ideal conditions, what a glorious thing for a winemaker! 2016 was such a year for Bouchard Pére & Fils cellar master Frédéric Weber. 

Frédéric Weber, Cellar Master, Bouchard Pére & Fils

"2016 is a very beautiful vintage, allowing to fully express each terroir, with very good concentration (thanks to lower yields) and excellent acidity," says Frédéric. "In terms of quality we are pretty confident, the reds show a great definition of red fruits, they are expressive on the nose, and on the palate they are round and elegant." Regarding the white wines, he says "The 2016 whites are promising with great freshness, citrus flavors, they are generous on the palate due to maturity but with chiseled finish."


I recently had the pleasure of tasting through the 2016 vintage with Frédéric and share his enthusiasm. The wines impressed me with their elegance, expressiveness, and consistency. Not surprising -- founded in 1731, Bouchard Pére & Fils is one of the oldest wine merchant houses in Burgundy and one of the largest landowners in the prestigious Côte d'Or. Their acclaimed parcels total 321acres with 30 classified as Grand Crus and 183 as Premiers Crus. Committed to preserving the integrity of their land, Bouchard Pére & Fils has been devoted to organic and sustainable practices since 2000. 

image courtesy of Bouchard Pére & Fils

Recently, I wrote about Burgundy's intimidation factor -- one could spend a lifetime trying to unravel the complexities of this prestigious and celebrated wine region. (I even made a case for using the proper French name, Bourgogne, instead of the anglicized Burgundy, but's that's certainly not a hard and fast rule.) But becoming a total wine geek isn't a requirement to enjoy Burgundy. Let the wines take you on a journey to these legendary French vineyards and experience for yourself why Burgundy is universally lauded for its exceptional ability to transmit the essence of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and terroir. The diverse portfolio and consistent quality of Bouchard Pére & Fils make them a great gateway to exploring the wines of Burgundy.  

One grape with endless expressions, Pinot Noir is the grand diva of red Burgundy. Bouchard Pére & Fils has an extensive portfolio that showcases the various styles and nuances of Pinot Noir. Here are a few of my favorites.  


Bouchard Pére & Fils, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Village Côte de Nuits 2016 ($65) shimmys across the palate with elegant oomph. A kiss of spice and long finish enhance its energy and grace. Hailing from Burgundy's most southernly appellation, its solid structure and tannins provide the foundation for aging but it is very enjoyable now. 


Bouchard Pére & Fils, Gevrey-Chambertin, Village Côte de Nuits 2016 ($65) is from the heart of the Côte de Nuits - the area with the highest concentration of Grand Crus reds. Hearty and velvety with hints of fresh cherry, roses, and an engaging earthiness. 


The rich and pleasingly plummy flavors of Bouchard Pére & Fils, Pommard, Premier Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 ($90) show the influence of its chalky & iron-rich soils. 



Bouchard Pére & Fils, Beaune Gréves Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus, Premier Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 ($130) has quite an intriguing backstory. The name translates to "Vine of the Baby Jesus" and pays homage to an old story that a Carmelite nun predicted the birth of Louis XIV, in spite of his mother's sterility. Upon the birth of the future king, this special vineyard, measuring 9.68 acres in the heart of the Beaune Grèves appellation, was given to the Carmelites as an expression of gratitude. Bouchard Pére & Fils has had exclusive rights to this vineyard since 1791. Intense but delicate, this wine shows a beautiful interplay between fruit, spice, and earthy flavors. 

Bouchard Pére & Fils, Le Corton, Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 ($150) hails from the historic Le Corton vineyard that gave the Corton appellation its name. The only Grand Cru (the very top of the Burgundy classification system) on the Côte de Beaune, this wine dazzles with it suppleness, strength, and regal structure. 

 The whites of Burgundy are ruled by Chardonnay. Yes, Chardonnay may be ubiquitous but it is Burgundy that set the standard for still & dry Chardonnay wines. The Bouchard Pére & Fils roster of Chardonnay shows the grape's capacity to convey a range of expressions. 



Luscious with zippy acidity, Bouchard Pére & Fils, Meursault Les Clous, Village Côte de Beaune 2016 ($65) delivers plenty of wow at a great price for such a beautifully crafted wine. 

The Chardonnay grapes for Bouchard Pére & Fils, Beaune Clos Saint-Landry, Premier Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 ($75) come from a small vineyard with the oldest traces of the Chardonnay variety in Beaune. There's something quite spicy and sexy about this special wine. 



If you've ever wondered what makes Grand Cru White Burgundy so special, Bouchard Pére & Fils, Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 ($210) beautifully answers the question. Indulgent, elegant, robust, and vivacious - absolute ooh la la! 

To learn more about the wines of Bouchard Pére and Fils, visit their website. 

Bye Bye Burgundy, Bonjour Bourgogne

Champagne is Champagne. Bordeaux is Bordeaux. And Bourgogne is Burgundy? Sacré Bleu, not if the Bourgogne Wine Board can help it! One of France's most revered and famous wine regions, Bourgogne has been very patient but they respectfully request that we stop anglicizing their name, s'il vous plaît. So let's all say Bourgogne together -- Boor-gawn-yuh. Now, that wasn't so hard!



Let's face it, the pronunciation of Bourgogne isn't the only thing that intimidates many people -- the wines themselves have a reputation for being very expensive and only accessible to serious wine drinkers with deep pockets. It is true that Bourgogne produces some of the world's most celebrated wines and those upper-echelon wines demand impressive prices. However, that is only part of the Bourgogne story - many of the wines are accessibly priced and still offer superb quality. If you've been reluctant to explore the wines of Bourgogne, here are 4 essential facts about Bourgogne and 6 recommended producers. Cheers!



Fact 1: Bourgogne is the name of the region and the wines produced there. Located in central-eastern France, Bourgogne is at the crossroads of Mediterranean influences to the south, continental influences to the north, and oceanic influences to the west. Bourgogne's winemaking history spans 2,000 years. 



Fact 2: Bourgogne's unique geography and terroir produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes of exceptional quality and most wines from Bourgogne are single-varietal wines crafted from Pinot Noir (red) and Chardonnay (white). This focus allows for wines of extraordinary purity and expressiveness. Smaller quantities of other grapes are also produced in Bourgogne; including Gamay, Sauvignon, and Aligoté. More than 60% of the wines produced in Bourgogne are white, about 27.5% red, some sparkling (Crémant du Bourgogne) and a bit of rosé. 

Fact 3: Bourgogne has five wine-producing regions that run from north to south - Chablis & Grand Auxerrois, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâconnais. Within those five regions are 84 AOCs (Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée) that consist of 33 Grand Cru, 44 Village, and 7 Regional AOCs. While wines from Grand Cru appellations, such as Montrachet and Charmes-Chambertin, may be the most famous and expensive, they only account for 1% of Bourgogne's total production. Excellent wines, at various price points, can be found throughout the Village and Regional AOCs. Bourgogne's total annual production is around 183 million bottles - an impressive amount but it actually represents only 0.4% of the world's total wine production. But it's quality, not quantity, that matters and Bourgogne's 0.4% is superbly made and incredibly influential. 



Fact 4: The Climats of Bourgogne have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Essential to understanding Bourgogne's terroir, climats are defined as "delimited geographic areas benefitting from specific natural and identified conditions. Created by man and nature, hand in hand, the Climats are more than 1,000 individual plots that are precisely delimited and classified into a hierarchy, gathered around the region’s various winegrowing villages."

Are you ready to explore wines from Bourgogne? Even if you can't master the pronunciation, don't be intimidated. After all, wine is meant to bring pleasure, not anxiety. If you love Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Bourgogne offers some of the most elegant and ethereal expressions of these grapes. Stop by your local wine shop and spend some time browsing the Bourgogne section; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the range of prices and expressions. I suggest starting your journey with one of the six producers listed below. 

Maison Louis Jadot 
Founded in 1859 by Louis-Henry Jadot, this venerable winemaker produces more than 150 wines in Bourgogne and Beaujolais. Jadot is certainly one of the most widely available French wine brands in the US. 

Bouchard Pére & Fils
Founded in 1731, this respected winemaker is one of the oldest in Bourgogne and their 450 sustainably farmed vineyards extend more than 48 kilometers from north to south. 

Domaine Huguenot Pére & Fils
The Huguenot family has been growing vines since 1790 and the estate practices organic farming.

Domaine Louis Moreau 
The Moreau family settled in Chablis in 1814 and today the winery is managed by the 6th generation of the family. Devoted to Chardonnay, their vineyards are spread over the 4 levels of the appellation - Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru.

Domaine Jean-Louis & Jean-Christophe Bersan
The Bersan family has been making wine in Bourgogne for centuries. Today, father and son, tend vines that were planted more than 65 years ago by their ancestor. 

Les Vignerons des Terres Secrétes
Founded in 1928, the 120 vignerons of Les Vignerons des Terres Secrétes work 910 hectares of vines in Bourgogne. 

To learn more, visit the Bourgogne Wine Board website.