Chardonnay Wine

Winemaker Description 

C Blanc du Castel is a white wine made purely of Chardonnay grapes (100%).
Using French oak barrels, the wine is fermented and then set to mature in its residual sugars for about a year, Bourgogne style.

‘C’ Blanc du Castel is known for its rich and buttery bouquet and refreshing acidity; it bears a full round flavor, with a touch of citrus, tropical fruit and roasted almonds.

This is a well-balanced wine with a fine long finish. It reaches its peak about 4 years after its harvest, and the recommended serving temperature is 12-14 degrees Celsius.

Winemaker Description 

Smooth, opulent layers of stone fruit and hints of citrus and apple are heightened by sweet smells of ripe tropical fruit, honey, and baking spices. The full flavors are highlighted by minerality and juiciness on the palate and a rich, custardy, plush finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Jasper Morris 92-94 Points | Mid lemon. A little more stuffing than the very agreeable Chenevottes, digging deep into fresh yellow fruit, some citrus rind, good acidity, and a particularly appealing intense crisp white fruit finish. Old vines count! 

Neal Martin writes:  The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Champs Gain 1er Cru has a touch more mineralité on the nose compared to the Les Chenevottes, touches of gypsum and oyster shell intermingling with light white linen scents. The palate is very well balanced and beautifully poised, with entrancing white peach and nectarine notes toward the irresistible finish. Yes, yes, yes!  Drinking 2025 to 2048.  - Vinous 93-95

William Kelley writes: Aromas of citrus zest, peach and pear, mingled with hints of white flowers, hazelnuts and fresh bread, preface the 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gain, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and nicely concentrated wine with a bright spine of acidity and a mouthwateringly chalky finish. This looks to be Colin's best Champs Gain since 2017.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91-93

Winemaker Description 

Founded in 1970 by Marc Colin and his wife Michele, Domaine Marc Colin now spans 15 hectares encompassing 26 appellations in St. Aubin, Chassagne, Puligny, and Santenay. Most of the land was inherited from past generations of Colin and Ponavoy; certain parcels have been in the family for more than 100 years. While the family does own prime territory in Chassagne, home base in St. Aubin features parcels of the very best vineyards, En Remilly and Chatenière, to name a few. These vineyards accrue prestige due to their sloped location; while much of St. Aubin resides on flat ground (rendering less interesting wines) the Colin properties are all situated on finely pitched hillsides. The resulting wines shimmer with savory minerality and luster.

Today Joseph, Caroline, and Damien, the children of Marc and Michele, own and run the domaine. The fourth sibling Pierre-Yves (who made the wine at Marc Colin for 10 years) established his own project in 2005. Sustainable and organic agriculture, older vines, and clay-limestone soils are just some of the components contributing to the quality of the final product. Winemaking style would best be called traditional, though Joseph (who makes the whites) and Damien (who makes the reds) are certainly not shy of innovation. Whites strive for optimum freshness; there is no heavy, ungainly wood here. The red wines are characterized by silky texture, ever-present fruit and a certain roundness with just a kiss of oak. Production consists of 70% white and 30% red with total production maxing out at 120,000 bottles.

Our Professional Review 

Rand Sieger, 67 Wine Buyer, writes:  This 100% Chardonnay comes from vineyards in the village of Macon-Chardonny, one of the villages allowed to append its name to the region of Macon.  This is an outstanding fresh  white with aromas of quince and white stone fruits and a delicate touch of oak.  This is a great pairing with soft ripened cheeses or white fish.  

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer, says: The 2023 Macon-Chardnnay is the inaugural vintage of this wine from renowned Puligny-Montrachet winemaker Alain Chavy and his son Corantin. The grapes are sourced from various growers and the winemaking takes place at the cellar in Puligny under the care and guidance of Alain and Corantin. The wine is clean and refreshing with lovely Chardonnay white fruit character and floral complexity. Medium bodied with a nice lift of acidity on the long finish.

Memo Summary Notes

The Chavy-Martin Mâcon-Chardonnay 2023 is a standout value from Burgundy, crafted by Alain Chavy and his son Corentin. 

Rand Sieger, 67 Wine Buyer, says: Saint Aubin is an appellation which still offers comparatively excellent value, and  this wine is no exception.  Stony, saline minerality marries seamlessly with bright  white apple and delicate stone fruits.  A whisper of oak ties everything together beautifully.

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer, writes: Made from a single vineyard planted in 1989, the Cuvee homes Saint-Aubin has energetic liveliness and a lovely texture, a beautiful balance of purity and complexity. Floral honeyed white orchard fruits emerge with fleshy richness and lifted viscosity, with a happy mouth cleansing finish. A very classy act, as Saint-Aubin often can be!

Winemaker Description 

The Domaine Jomain Bourgogne Côte d’Or Chardonnay 2023 is an exceptional find for Burgundy enthusiasts, often described as a "baby Puligny-Montrachet." This is because the Jomain family is based in Puligny-Montrachet, and this specific bottling is produced from vines located just outside the village boundaries in the prestigious Côte d’Or sub-appellation.

The 2023 vintage is currently hitting the market as a "rockstar" bottle, lauded for balancing the ripeness of a warm season with the precise, flinty minerality that defines this estate.

Pair with

    •    Seafood: Its rich texture and minerality make it a perfect match for scallops in cream sauce, lobster rolls, or lemony shrimp risotto.
    •    Poultry: Roasted chicken with tarragon or a light chicken stir-fry with ginger.
    •    Cheese: Pairs beautifully with soft, creamy cheeses or a classic aged Comté.

    

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | This is the flagship Chardonnay produced by Domaine Anderson. It is a glimpse into the winemaking style of the house, highlighting the cool climate, sunshine and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The nose conveys pithy apple, youthful nectarine and butterscotch candy. The palate intensifies these notes, along with high acidity, minerals, cinnamon and a mouthwatering finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Made from estate-grown, certified organic vineyards, including three single-vineyard designates (Navarro-Fairhills, Walraven, and Dach), the 2021 Chardonnay Estate is a light-bodied white that is tangy in acidity and fresh citrus notes, expertly showcasing both the cool-climate region and coolness of the vintage, one of the earliest harvests on record in the Anderson Valley. Meyer lemon and a twist of lime highlight the aromatic profile, with more lemon developing on the palate as a nice complement to the green and Golden Delicious apple flavors.

The Wine Spectator 91 Points | With sleek notes of lemon, pear and yuzu alongside racy acidity, this pops out of the glass, finding wonderful harmony with the grace notes of white pepper and vanilla custard, plus a hint of salted butter shortbread on the finish. Drink now. 1,000 cases made.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description 

Domaine Laroche's 2023 Chablis St. Martin exemplifies the crisp minerality of this renowned region. Located in the heart of Chablis, Laroche is celebrated for its commitment to expressing the unique terroir of its vineyards, some of which are located on the original monastery sites.

The 2023 vintage, marked by a warm growing season with ideal conditions, resulted in vibrant and expressive wines. This Chablis St. Martin offers intense aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and oyster shell. On the palate, it reveals refreshing acidity, flinty minerality, and a crisp, clean finish. Perfect for pairing with oysters, seafood risotto, or goat cheese.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Spectator 88 Points | A ripe, fruity style, yet this shows textbook Chablis flint, lemon and apple flavors. This round, harmonious and juicy version lingers nicely on the finish. Drink now. 35,415 cases made, 7,083 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

The wine is pristine, bright and fresh with high acidity and citrus and mineral aromas and flavors.

This Chablis is aged in stainless steel tanks to keep the unique terroir expression and minerality. Fining and filtration is light. The goal is always to retain the wine’s complexity and structure. 

Delicious with poultry, shellfish and lobster.

Memo Summary Notes

A classic expression of Chablis, it is celebrated for its purity and focus on the unique limestone terroir of the region.

This wine’s high acidity acts like a squeeze of lemon, making it a perfect partner for:

• Shellfish: Fresh oysters, crab, or lobster.

• Light Starters: Octopus salad or fish tartare.

• Cheese: Goat cheese or a baked Brie.

Winemaker Description 

Daniel-Etienne Defaix's commitment to extraordinarily long aging, organic farming, and natural fermentations puts him well outside the region's mainstream, but his deeply expressive late-released wines are Chablis to their core. In generations past, long aging in Chablis was more the rule than the exception, but today Danny is virtually alone in that practice.

The Defaix family—one of the oldest winegrowing families in the region—owns thirty hectares of vines, the vast majority of which are in premier and grand cru vineyards, but Danny designates only his best lots each vintage as cru-level, declassifying the remainder as villages.

Astonishingly, he bottles these cru-level wines only after eight to ten years of aging in tanks, therein undergoing a slow natural settling which prevents the need for filtration. Long aging, however, is not the only way in which Defaix distinguishes himself. He relies exclusively on naturally occurring yeasts—a rare practice in Chablis—and his fermentations routinely last between three and six weeks (inoculating gets it done in four-to-six days), with malolactic fermentation sometimes requiring two years to finish in his frigid cellar.

Les Lys is a tiny five-hectare cru of which Defaix owns three and a half hectares, all in a southeast-facing section called Clos du Roi—effectively a monopole of the domaine. Its poor soils of pure Kimmeridgian limestone produce perhaps the most complete and distinctive wine in Defaix’s cellar. Combining some of the power of the “Vaillon” with the chalky intensity of the “Côte de Lechet,” “Les Lys” ratchets up the aromatic complexity of the previous two, yet comes across as pure and harmonious.

The palate offers ample richness, yet a sense of tension keeps it from feeling opulent, and the chiseled finish offers a strong sensation of dry extract.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

NOW by Paxton stands for 'Natural Organic Wine.' As leaders in organic production, Paxton wanted to create a Biodynamic and USDA Certified Organic natural wine with no added preservatives in a young, drink 'now' style of Chardonnay.

A fruit salad of native finger lime, pear d'Anjou, with wild spearmint, elderflower and a touch of tarragon. Bright and bouncy like jumping for the clouds on a backyard trampoline. This Chardonnay sits up straight but has a sneaky scrumptious and vibrant feel once allowed to relax. Drink NOW.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 94 Points | The 2022 Chardonnay Alta Historic Rows originates from Gualtallary and Villa Bastías, Uco Valley vineyards. It was aged up to 14 months in a combination of new and used barrels. Yellow in hue with a golden sheen. The floral nose presents appealing green apple, cedar, and nut aromas with hints of fennel and quince in the background. On the palate, it has a creamy, chalky texture and tart acidity resulting in a taut, refreshing mouthfeel. A well-crafted Chardonnay that sums up the advantages of high-altitude vineyards. 

James Suckling 94 Points |  Pie crust, smoked pineapple, lemon curd and zesty citrus on the palate. Medium-bodied, showing fresh, creamy fruit and a lengthy finish. Drink or hold.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Tim Atkin MW 92 Points | Kara-Tara is Stark-Condé winemaker Rudger van Wyk’s own project, entirely focused on Burgundian grapes. This stylish Chardonnay marries grapes from Elgin, the Overberg and Paarl. Poised between citrus and stone fruit flavours, with subtle toast and wet stone undertones. 2022-27′.

Producer Description 

Kara-Tara is a joint-venture between Rüdger van Wyk (2018 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year) and José Conde of Stark-Condé Wines. Translated from the Khoisan, the language from the first people in Southern Africa, it means “deep dark shadows” and refers to the Karatara river that runs through Rüdger’s home town, near Knysna which is located in South Africa, on the Cape South Coast, facing the Indian Ocean.

This wine has the classic notes of lemon and grapefruit you’d expect from Chardonnay, with hints of almond and a fine mineral finish.

Winemaker Description 

The Bourgogne Blanc from Domaine Leflaive has the particularity to only come from vineyards located in the town of Puligny, making it easily one of the best Bourgogne Blanc you could get your hands on. This is the perfect first step into the Domaine Leflaive’s unique offerings. All vineyards are farmed biodynamically. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Allen Meadows of Burhound | A very pretty nose freely reveals its aromas of apple, pear and lemon rind. The succulent, delicious and appealingly vibrant middleweight flavors possess a relatively refined texture while displaying fine depth and length for a wine of this level. The 20% addition of young vines from upper-level vineyards clearly helps and overall, this is excellent.

Producer Description 

A blend of five of our favorite Russian River Valley vineyard sites, this Chardonnay captures the fantastic character of the 2021 vintage. Fusing fresh lemon and white floral aromas with a throughline of minerality, this versatile Chardonnay is simultaneously easygoing and complex.  

Peak Drinking Window: 2023 – 2029. 

98 Points, James Suckling
94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck 
90 Points, Wine Spectator

Expert Review

James Suckling 98 Points | Extremely focused and energetic nose of sliced limes and Meyer lemons with lemongrass. Some stone and hints of flint. Full-bodied with superb density and structure and phenolics that you can feel. It goes on for minutes. Slightly chewy at the end. From Wente clones planted in 1974. (v.2021). 

Winemaker Description 

Fresh and fruity, pair with seafood or charcuterie, great as an aperitif. This white offers a bright and energetic initial impression, with lively acidity and sleek texture. Citrus flavors are enhanced by subtle earth and saline notes, as the flavor profile expands over the elegant finish. Clos de Loyse is a 22.3 acre walled vineyard attached to a castle of medieval origin.It was the land of the Lords of Loyse until 1643, when Carthusian monks took over and cultivated chardonnay there until the French revolution.

2024 was a challenging vintage across the greater Burgundy region, characterized by excessive rainfall and increased vine disease pressure. While meticulous viticulture was required everywhere, this particular vineyard was dealt a serious blow with a midsummer hailstorm that ultimately reduced the crop by 50%. The remaining grapes ripened perfectly to yield a small quantity of delicious wine. 

Winemaker Description

The wine has a brilliant light straw color with beguiling aromas that scream chardonnay such as Gravenstein apple, wild sage, and Meyer lemon. The flavors are bright and racy with a beautiful array of apple, tarragon, nuts, lemongrass and a lovely richness that remains fresh and lifted. The wine is complex, inviting, seductive, and vibrant all with a long lingering finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling 92 Points |  Lemon balm, orange blossoms and lime curd on the nose. The palate is focused, with a full-bodied mouthfeel and integrated acidity, giving notes of grapefruit sherbet, graham crackers and river stones. Very well balanced and energetic.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | Truchard's 2023 Chardonnay is loaded with scents of spicy oak, pear and melon, plus hints of citrus and sweet corn. All barrel fermented in one-third new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, plump, rounded and generous but balanced, silky and flat-out satisfying.

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | Shows a supple, elegant mix of orange blossom and creamsicle flavors, with notes of mango, tangerine, lemon zest and dried apricot. The intensity of flavor is matched by the rich body and fresh thread of acidity. Drink now. 6,000 cases made.

Winemaker Description

Truchard Estate Chardonnay shows complex nose of pineapple, lemon, quince, and honeysuckle, with slight hints of nutmeg, fig, and toasted oak. The mouth is clean and bright, with flavors of green apple, fresh pear, and Meyer lemon. Firm acidity provides a crisp finish of citrus, mineral, and spice.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 93 Points |  Excellent concentration and ripe fruit are balanced by the typical Chablis mineral and citrus character and backed by vivid acidity. It’s medium-bodied, well balanced, quite smooth, almost broad in texture with a lingering finish. A portion was fermented in neutral oak. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | A sleek, racy style, with a stony underpinning, along with lemon, apple, earth and celery flavors. There’s viscosity midpalate, and the finish is long. A white with gravitas that needs time. Best from 2027 through 2040.

Jasper Morris 91 Points | Mid lemon yellow, more stone than iodine on the nose, white fruit through the middle. Then greater tension, a little citrus rinse, and a more evident grip than Beugnons. Mostly Epinottes with 10% each from Les Lys and Beugnons. There is a small wood component (10%).

Tasting Notes

Our LIGHT Chardonnay is a fresh yet soft style with subtle hints of oak that give the wine a sweet finish. With flavors of lemon, apple, ripe apricot and offering a guilt free indulgence without compromising on taste or quality.

Naturally lower sugars yield less alcohol allowing our winemakers to achieve 9% ABV with minimal alcohol extraction post fermentation.

Wine Analysis

• Blend: 100% Chardonnay
• Winemaking Notes: Fermented and aged in combination of stainless steel and neutral American oak. 100% malolactic
• TA: 0.58g/100mL
• PH: 3.48
• Average analysis per 5 oz: 80 calories, 2.1g carbs, 0g protein, 0g fat, gluten free
• Alcohol: 9.0%

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Stunning and sleek, with intensity and precision to the citrus, pear and white peach flavors. Offers notes of orange blossom and jasmine, with notes of fresh-cut Fuji apple and buttery shortbread on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2034. 300 cases imported.

James Suckling 93 Points | A sleek, mid-weighted & very contemporary chardonnay, embellishing a pungent mineral chassis with roasted cashew, nougat and curdy creaminess. Vanilla-cedar oak, an integrated framework. Apricot pith, white peach and nectarine, too. The acidity, palpably natural of feel and really juicy, towing impressive length. One of the better recent iterations of this rightly popular cuvee. 

The Australian Wine Companion 93 Points | A sleek, mid-weighted & highly contemporary chardonnay, embellishing a pungent mineral chassis with roasted cashew, nougat and curdy creaminess. Vanilla-cedar oak, an integrated framework. Apricot pith, white peach and nectarine, too. The acidity, palpably natural of feel and really juicy, towing impressive length. Among the better recent iterations of this rightly popular cuvée.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2022 M3 Chardonnay is nutty and spiced on the nose, with green apple, crushed cashews, citrus rind and brine. The wine is, true to form, polished, sleek and flavorsome. This is a bit of a cherished wine in Australia; it is reliable and classy, and this vintage is no exception. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Memo Pairing Suggestions 

Food Pairings: Pairs beautifully with roasted chicken with thyme, grilled scallops in lemon butter, or creamy pasta primavera.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Decanter 92 Points | Pretty forceful, direct acidity here. Classic Chablis style. Will age. Comes from two plots situated on the left bank of the Serein, with one positioned below Montée de Tonnerre. They are fermented and kept separate before blending. Mostly hand-harvested.

Jasper Morris 91 Points | Pretty forceful, direct acidity here. Classic Chablis style. Will age. Comes from two plots situated on the left bank of the Serein, with one positioned below Montée de Tonnerre. They are fermented and kept separate before blending. Mostly hand-harvested.

Memo Notes

The 2022 growing season was warm, which gave this wine more volume and richness than the leaner 2021, but Billaud's signature precision remains intact.

• Aroma: Classic "Kimmeridgian" mineral notes of crushed chalk and seashell, followed by yellow plum, white flowers, and a hint of beeswax.

• Palate: Vibrant and electric. Expect a core of lemon zest, green apple, and white peach. The texture is slightly creamy from the lees aging but is driven by a distinct saline (salty) streak.
• 
  

  Finish: Long, dry, and exceptionally clean, with a lingering flinty finish.

  Memo Pairing Notes

• The Gold Standard: Fresh oysters on the half shell or chilled crab claws. 

  • Main Courses: Grilled sea bass with lemon and herbs, or a creamy mushroom risotto.

  • Cheese: Goat cheese (Chèvre) or a light, nutty Comté.

Winemaker Description 

Daniel Dampt thoughtfully assembles this Chablis from a variety of vineyards, capturing a vivid snapshot of the entire appellation.

Older sites add structure and complexity while younger ones lend freshness and minerality. They combine in a pale-green wine with fresh lemon aromas and lively intensity on the palate.

The color is pale green with fresh lemon aromas. This is a lively, intense, and bright wine.

Winemaker Description

Appearance: Clear and brilliant wine. Golden yellow color. Nose: Open and complex nose. Notes of yellow fruit on the nose and palate, with a touch of sweetness.

Palate: Balanced wine with a lovely freshness on the finish.

Food pairing: Shellfish, lobster, chicken in cream sauce, foie gras…

Winemaker Description 

An effusive yet delicate nose showing aromas of honeysuckle, quince, and roasted almond. The palate is rich and complex offering flavors of warm spice, pear, and sea shells.

Domaine Gerard Tremblay Chablis 1er Cru Montmain 2023 represents the purity and finesse of Chablis, now highly valued among collectors and sommeliers in the United States. 

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | While this wine is currently quiet, it shows a lot of promise. Mouthwatering and long on the palate, it offers attractive citrus pith, delicate white flowers and fresh almonds.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Estate Vineyards provide the backbone to this expressive Napa Valley Chardonnay.
Notes of bright citrus-lemon and green apple are complemented by toasty vanilla and
a kiss of minerality from the soil. Barrel fermentation enhances the citrus fruit flavors
and balances acidity, while partial malolactic adds body and creamy crème brûlée
character to the mid-palate

Experience the Essence of Domaine Leflaive

Experience the essence of Domaine Leflaive Mâcon Verzé Biodynamic 2023, a wine that embodies the estate's unwavering commitment to biodynamic viticulture and ecological responsibility. In recent years, Domaine Leflaive has acquired vines in the Mâconnais region to complement their legendary Puligny holdings, immediately converting them to biodynamics. This 2023 vintage reflects the same meticulous attention to singularity that the Leflaive family has carried from the start, ensuring each plot reveals its unique personality.

Expert Recognition - 2022 Vintage

Wine Spectator - 91 Points (Bruce Sanderson)
"This white is harmonious and creamy in texture, featuring floral, peach, apple tart and lemon cake flavors, all buoyed by vibrant acidity. The oak treatment is subtle, with flashes of baking spices, and this ends with fine length."

Tasting Profile

This wine offers an exquisite flavor profile that captivates the senses. On the nose, you are greeted with fresh mineral notes, bright citrus, and subtle floral hints, creating an aromatic experience that is as inviting as it is complex. The palate is harmonious and creamy in texture, featuring flavors of peach, apple tart, lemon cake, green apple, pear, and a touch of stone fruit. Vibrant acidity buoys the wine, while subtle oak treatment adds flashes of baking spices. The crisp, lingering finish showcases fine length and excellent balance, making this a wine of finesse and elegance.

Biodynamic Pioneer in Burgundy

Domaine Leflaive is one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy. The estate's philosophy is clear: "You have to respect the vine so that it gives its best. To work on it meticulously, with a limited number of means that lets nature express itself." By utilizing organic farming principles and following lunar cycles, the estate creates wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region. This sustainable approach ensures that each grape is nurtured in harmony with nature, resulting in wines that are not only delicious but also contribute to a healthier planet.

Meticulous Attention to Each Plot

When Joseph Leflaive undertook to replant the vineyard after the phylloxera crisis, he tried to adapt to each climat so it reveals its personality. Today, all plots, from the simplest to the most sought-after grand cru, are monitored with the same attention to singularity. This meticulous care translates into wines that stand out for both flavor and ecological responsibility.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The vibrant acidity and excellent balance make this wine ideal for pairing with:

• Fresh seafood and shellfish
• Grilled or poached fish
• Creamy cheeses like Brie or Chèvre
• Roasted poultry
• Light pasta dishes with cream sauce
• Simply enjoying on its own as an aperitif

Domaine Leflaive Legacy Since the 18th Century

Founded in the 18th century, Domaine Leflaive has a storied legacy in the world of winemaking. Known for unwavering dedication to quality, the estate has established itself as a leading producer of biodynamic wines in Burgundy. Each bottle reflects a rich history and an innovative approach to wine production, garnering international acclaim and a loyal following among wine enthusiasts. The 2023 Mâcon Verzé encapsulates the skill and artistry that has been synonymous with Domaine Leflaive for generations.

Expert Review

James Suckling by Andrii Stetsiuk 96 Points |  Joyful and juicy but also concentrated and very precise, this is a stunning cool-climate chardonnay. Brimming with sliced pear, white peach and white flower aromas. The delicate oak is already beautifully integrated on the mouth-filling yet only medium-bodied palate. Then comes a wave of toasted hazelnut flavor in the very long and super-silky finish. Drink from release.

Producer Description 

• 100% Chardonnay
• The Knoll, Lahoma Vineyard
• small sandstone hill
• Umbrella training system – results in more shading
• Cold soak overnight
• Fermented in 3 French oak large format puncheons
• Aged 10 months in the puncheons, stirred regularly
• 13% abv

As a Harvard educated Economist, Kelby made the unusual transition to wine in pursue of his passion. He also brought with him his deep love for music as a way to inspire his winemaking approach. For well over a decade, he patiently perfected his art while working at another winery. Finally in 2023, Kelby and his also-winemaker wife Julia, embarked on the adventure of their dreams and launched Apollo’s Praise. Despite the wait, the musical influence is as strong as it has ever been. Every bottle suggests an unusual pairing. Turn the bottle around to find a recommended song to listen to while enjoying a glass!

Kelby and Julia produce complex, yet approachable wines by carefully merging art and science. Every single one of them is the reflection of vintage variation, site specificity and unique varietal characteristics. Unsurprisingly, critics regard their highly-sought-after Lahoma Vineyard series as some of Finger Lakes’ best wines.

Apollo’s Praise philosophy in Kelby’s and Julia’s words: “The Best Wines are Art. They are an expression of culture and speak to where they come from, when they come from, and who they come from.”

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Alain Meadows of Burghound writes 95 Points |  Here too the beautifully layered nose is decidedly cool with its more citrus-suffused aromas of green apple, wet stone and crushed fennel. The more refined, if slightly less concentrated, medium weight flavors flash an almost pungent minerality on the beautifully textured, bone-dry and sneaky long finale. This chiseled effort will need at least a few years of cellaring first as it's quite tightly wound today.  - Burghound 95 ♥️

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Charles Curtis, MW of Decanter 94 Points | This village-level wine is a reliable benchmark for the commune. It reflects the sunny character of the vintage with its ripe stone fruit and citrus notes, yet offers depth and complexity as well, with saline hints, flint and fresh white flowers. The texture is silky and approachable. It’s drinking now, but with enough substance to hold for five to 10 years.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Puligny-Montrachet Village has a nicely detailed bouquet of green apples. It's a touch spicier than the Bourgogne Blanc with a trace of walnut coming through with aeration. The palate is nicely balanced with a keen line of acidity sour lemon hints and again that spice that lingers on the aftertaste.

Allen Meadows of Burghound 90-92 Points | A markedly more floral-suffused nose features notes of cool Granny Smith apple citrus and a touch of mineral reduction. The caressing delicious and plump but agreeably energetic medium-bodied flavors possess solid depth and persistence on the balanced firm and highly refreshing finale. This is also excellent for its level and a wine that should drink well after only 3 to 4 years of keeping but age gracefully for a decade. Recommended.

Memo Summary Notes 

The Domaine Leflaive Mâcon-Verzé "Les Chênes" 2023 is a prestigious biodynamic white Burgundy that serves as an entry point into the world of the most famous Chardonnay producer on earth. While Leflaive’s Grand Crus from Puligny-Montrachet fetch thousands, their Mâcon-Verzé wines are crafted with the same biodynamic rigor and technical precision by the same winemaking team.

The "Les Chênes" (The Oaks) is a specific vineyard within the Mâcon-Verzé appellation known for its older vines (some planted in 1935) and south-facing exposure, which produces a wine with more structure and "toasty" complexity than their standard Mâcon-Verzé.

    •    Food Pairing: Its mineral precision and creamy finish make it perfect for butter-poached lobster, grilled scallops, or a rich vegetable tart.

    •    Cheese: Pairs exceptionally well with Chèvre (goat cheese) or a younger Comté.

Winemaker Description 

Clay-limestone terroir with little depth before reaching the bedrock. Gentle to very steep slopes. Surface area: 3.43 ha located in the heart of the Verzé valley, "Les Chênes" comprises two south-west-facing parcels.

The vines are cultivated biodynamically.

Harvesting is entirely manual, and pressing is carried out in Verzé. After decanting, the musts are transported daily to Puligny- Montrachet for fermentation and ageing, under the watchful eye of Domaine Leflaive's technical team. Vinification takes place in vats, and ageing lasts from 15 to 16 months.
Pressing: Long, gentle pneumatic pressing, 24-hour decanting followed by settling.
Fermentation: 55% in stainless steel tanks, 42% in cement tanks and 3% in new oak barrels.

Ageing: After 10 months' ageing on lees in fermentation containers, the wine is racked into stainless steel tanks and aged on fine lees for 6 months. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2022 DAOU Chardonnay displays a rich, ample nose of pineapple, vanilla bean, mango, hazelnut and nutmeg spice. Floral tones of honeysuckle and star jasmine are accented by sweet ginger and lemon zest. The palate is weighty and mouth-filling, delivering round, silky flavors of Bartlett pear, Crenshaw melon, kiwi and fresh pineapple.

Notes of Golden Delicious apple and papaya are complemented with lemon cream pie and crushed almonds, while hints of white peach, citrus peel and cinnamon linger on a long, graceful finish. Winemaker Description.