White Wine

Producer Description 

This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 92 Points | Attractive crunchy character with spiced pears, lemon pith, white tea, lemongrass and orange peel. It is full-bodied with creamy texture, vivid acidity and juicy crunchiness. It is both rich and fresh with a polished, mineral finish. From organically grown grapes. (v.2021).

Wine & Spirits 92 Points | Zesty reduction gives the meatier aspects of this wine a run for their money. This is generous, dynamic and cool, needing some bottle age to shed the reductive scallion notes and reveal more of its underlying complexities.(v.2021).

Producer Description 

Located in the cool Russian River Valley, the DCV Block 10 vineyard tends to ripen slowly, providing grapes that are deliciously balanced.  This balanced Chardonnay carries aromas of peach, green apple and lime with notes of candied ginger, allspice, cream soda and a touch of minerality.

The palate is full of intense, rich flavors of Asian pear, mango and Meyer lemon, with striking nuances of ruby grapefruit, honeydew melon and vanilla bean. 

Traces of spice from its brief barrel aging contribute to its harmonious and bright mouthfeel. Excellent immediate drinkability, although the wine does have potential to age well for 1–3 years." 

Critic Notes

Alain Meadows writes:  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 ♥️

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 

Produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes. Hand picked Chardonnay grapes grown in the Galilee exhibit nuances of jasmine and honey. Body is medium to full. The wine has been aged for 8 months in oak barrels which adds complexity and richness.

Tal Pelter, the Winemaker and co-owner of Pelter and Matar Wineries, studied agriculture at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. He got a BA in viticulture studies at Curtin University. Tal worked with winemaker John Griffith at Darlington Estate, a boutique winery located in the Perth hills, producing premium wines, blends, sparkling wines, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz.

After completing his studies, Tal worked at Evans & Tate Winery, in Western Australia. In 2001, Tal returned to Israel with a vision of establishing his own winery.

After the passing of his mother Tiva in 2002, Tal founded Pelter Winery in her honor. Tal embarked on a journey to produce premium wines in Israel. Nir Pelter, C.E.O and co-owner of Pelter and Matar Wineries. After military service in 2005, Nir joined the winery, motivated by the spirit of the business, the teamwork, and excitement of a new venture. Tal and Nir decided to establish Matar, a premium brand Kosher winery.

Winemaker Description 

Aged for 10 months in new French oak and neutral barrels, this rich and lush wine displays Notes of lemon custard and honeyed apple blossoms, with a touch of warm vanilla butter cookies. Vibrant and expressive palate, rich, full mouthfeel, with a luxurious finish.

Producer Description 

Pale yellow color with hints of green. You get on the nose a touch of oak, lots of finesse and minerality with white flowers, lemon and apple scents. On the mouth, the wine is fresh, round and fruity with aromas of melon, kiwi, peaches and apricot and a nice minerality. Overall, the wine is nicely balanced and fresh with a great length.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 91 Points | A rich version, bordering on creamy, this peach-, apple- and stone-inflected white is complex and long, with fine balance and a long aftertaste that resonates with fruit and mineral notes.(V.2022). 

Producer Description 

Fresh, fruity aroma dominated by peach, white plum, and grapefruit notes, with touches of toasted hazelnut. Mineral on the palate, with plenty of volume, elegant acidity and lasting rich fruity aromas, ending with a fresh, pleasant aftertaste.

Allan Meadows writes:  The hallmark citrus influences of a fine Séchet are on display along with notes of white flower, iodine and ocean breeze. Here too there is fine density to the palate coating flavors that are at once caressing but punchy, all wrapped in a clean, very dry and lemony finish that is presently somewhat youthfully austere.  - Burghound 91-93 ♥️ Outstanding

Decanter | From vines grown on the plateau above Les Clos, this is a great introduction to the Raveneau style.

Expert Reviews

Decanter 91 Points | Raveneau’s Petit Chablis comes from relatively recently planted vines (2010) located high on the plateau above the grand cru. So clean, vibrant and precise. Crystal clear in character. This is certainly not a heavyweight but is a memorable example of the appellation. The wine will be bottled in Spring 2023. Aged in oak (400/500l old wood) which adds an extra level of roundness and suppleness to the wine. A very fine Petit Chablis. (2021). 

John Gilman 90 Points  | This has excellent depth for a Petit Chablis, as well as lovely mineral undertow and backend lift and has to be one of the wines to search out for dipping into the vintage in its first blush of youth. The bouquet is really pretty, wafting from the glass in a mix of lemon, apple, a lovely base of chalky soil tones, white flowers and a nice touch of citrus zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and has excellent mineral undertow, with a lovely core of fruit, superb acids and grip and a long, complex and quite lovely finish. This is very fine. (Drink between 2023-2035). (2021). 

Burghound | Note: from a .82 ha holding There is plenty of maritime character to the pretty green fruit and citrus scents. There is impressive density and solid underlying tension to the utterly delicious middleweight flavors that conclude in a crisp, stony and refreshing finale. This should drink well after only 2 to 3 years of keeping. (2021).

Vinous  | The 2021 Petit Chablis has an attractive bouquet that could dupe you into thinking there are light red fruits (white tipped strawberries) here. The palate is well balanced with good weight, just a touch of bitter lemon with a linear finish that is lifted by the acidity. This is a fine Petit Chablis. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

A clean, charming, distinctive wine with expressive minerality. Its structure and intensity in the mouth suggest good ageing potential. Ideal with fish and white meats with creamy sauces.

The winery and vineyards are located in and around the village of Poinchy, which is just outside of Chablis itself. The wines from this area tend to be ever so slightly more generous on the palate in terms of power and amplitude, but with a clear and distinct line of briny minerality and acidity that unmistakably scream 'Chablis'!

AgriBio certified since 2010 and practicing organic farming. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in 50% tank and 50% neutral barrels of varying age. Blended wines are aged on the lees for 18 months in combination of 2/3 tank and 1/3 oak.

Expert Reviews

Neal Martin of Vinous writes | The 2021 Chablis Côte de Léchet 1er Cru comes from 60-year-old vines and spent six months on the fine lees, 10% aged in barrel. It has a punchy nose with very aromatic floral scents, hints of grapefruit and more subtle earthy aromas. The palate is well-balanced, with a slightly honeyed opening and acidity neatly offsetting tropical notes of mango and pineapple. Quite concentrated on the finish, this should drink well for a few years. Oddly, more like a 2022 in style!  Drinking 2024 to 2032.

Jancis Robinson writes 16.5+/20 Points | Cask sample. More discreet nose than the regular Chablis and much more obvious acidity. Should mature into a very attractive drink. Some lime notes and medium palate weight.  Drinking 2025 to 2035.

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 88-91 Points | Notes of wet stone, apple, carnation and spice lead to round and supple but slightly denser medium weight flavors that seem almost easy-going on the mid-palate before instantly tightening up on the balanced if youthfully austere finale that could also benefit from developing more depth.

Expert Reviews

Allen Meadows Burghound 89-92 Points  | A very Meursault nose of white fleshed fruit, acacia blossom, hazelnut and a whiff of citrus character introduces rich and seductively textured medium weight flavors that flash a lovely minerality that adds a sense of lift to the bitter lemon-tined finale. This is also an excellent villages and worth considering.

Jasper Morris 90-92 Points | Mid lemon and lime. The bouquet is not overtly weighty. The hillside vineyards and those below complement each other. There is certainly excellent energy beneath here a fine thread to freshen the weight of white orchard fruit. Impeccable village Meursault.

Expert Reviews

Allen Meadows Burghound 91-93 Points | Here too the nose is quite fresh with its combination of apple, white flowers and just sliced citrus, especially lemon. There is both excellent punch and a lovely texture though only average density to the lingering and balanced finish where a touch of youthful austerity slowly emerges. While this could be enjoyed young, it has apparent development potential so at least a few years of keeping are recommended. (2022). 

Vinous 93-94 Points | The 2022 Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru had a lot of reduction when I tasted it from barrel though its intensity was clear. The palate is very promising: wonderful tension here steely and spicier than the Meursault Village with touches of fennel and white pepper on the finish. Quite feisty and surely one for long-term aging. (Drink between 2026-2048).

This is an estate-level, lighter, dry Chardonnay at a great price. Think of it like a German Petite Chablis.

Notes of tropical fruits and the minerality of limestone with a toasty finish. The wine has a fine texture and fullness that makes the incredible food friendly.

Winemaker Description

Bruno Clair set up an eponymous estate in France established in 1979 with vineyard holdings spread all over the area.  Half of the vines are a century old. Bruno Clair, a true vigneron, has the expertise needed to reinvent this area better than anyone and his Marsannay wines are very elegant and long-lasting. His respect for the terroir and the stylistic precision of his wines makes him one of the best producers in Burgundy.

This textbook En la Rue de Vergy is one of the rare white wines of the Côte de Nuits. It is complex, perfectly balanced, and well-structured with very clean tannins and crisp acidity and a long finish. The intense, rich palette presents lemon, grapefruit, oak, vanilla, yellow apple, almonds, and white melon flavors with herbal, floral, and mineral nuances. It's a nice accompaniment to paella.

Winemaker Description 

Clean and bright aromas with notes of Empire apple and Asian pear. Flavors of mandarin orange, pear, honeydew melon and cantaloupe are enhanced with a pleasant acidity that lingers on the finish.

Winemaker Description

Clean and bright aromas with notes of Empire apple and Asian pear. Flavors of mandarin orange, pear, honeydew melon and cantaloupe are enhanced with a pleasant acidity that lingers on the finish.

Winemaker Notes

Aromatically the wine is perfumed with apricots, lemon, golden apples, and honeysuckle. On the palate, the wine is nutty with hints of lemon zest, orange blossoms, and a touch of honeycomb.

Critic Notes

94 Points Wine Spectator | Fragrant, focused and precise, offering flavors of lemongrass and lemon blossoms, with Meyer lemon and green papaya accents, plus a touch of tangerine. Shows green tea, lemon balm and white pepper notes on a mouthwatering frame, with a hint of salinity that lingers.

94 Points Vinous | The 2021 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard is another dense, ample wine in this range. The Woolsey Road has a good deal of phenolic intensity. There's real breadth and resonance here. Lemon confit, white pepper and dried herbs are nicely amplified.

93 Points James Suckling | Richness and concentration are the hallmarks of this full-bodied, mouth-filling wine. Deep in Bosc pears, baked apples and baking spices, it offers a creamy texture balanced by moderate acidity.

Critic Notes

Bruce Sanderson writes:  Butterscotch, almond, peach and spice flavors lead off and then subside as this soft white dissipates on the palate. Moderate length. Drink now. 

Winery Notes

Clean pale yellow color and green reflections. A nice brilliance. The nose is fresh and fruity, ripe and round with discrete vanilla and brioche scents. On the mouth, the wine is dense and rich, fresh and subtle with a good length and finesse. Overall, the wine is nicely balanced, fresh, elegant and with a long finish. Winemaker Description. 

88 Points Wine Spectator | Features flint and gooseberry aromas and flavors that suggest Chablis, along with the delicate profile and lemon notes. Vibrant and charming, with moderate length. Drink now. 1,000 cases imported.

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. 

Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay is crafted in a fresh, soft style with juicy citrus and apple fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to create this complex yet approachable, food-friendly style. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

93 Points Wine Advocate | The 2020 Meursault Village has turned out beautifully in bottle, unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp Anjou pear, lemon zest, freshly baked bread, blanched almonds, pastry cream and apple blossom. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, its textural attack segues into a fleshy, precise mid-palate that's animated by racy acids, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. It's another terrific rendition of this benchmark cuvée.

Burhound 92-94 Points | An elegant, pure and ultra-fresh nose offers up notes of lilac, rose petal, white peach, tea and citrus zest. There is a markedly more refined mouthfeel to the utterly delicious and highly seductive medium weight flavors that are more precise, all wrapped in a citrusy, impressively persistent and youthfully austere finale. This is very classy and I particularly like the underlying tension and balance that should also permit this beauty to age effortlessly over the next 12 to 15 years. In a word, excellent.

Winemaker Deswcription

Jean-Marc Boillot was one of the younger generation in Burgundy who was determined to improve his family’s wines. In 1984, after vinifying 13 vintages at the family’s domaine, Henri Boillot, Jean-Marc walked out in protest, intent on producing highly concentrated, rich, and ripe wines. He became the winemaker for Olivier Leflaive for the next four years and at the same time produced wines from 5-acres of vineyards, bottled under his own label. The wines impressed Boillot’s grandfather, who bequest half his vineyard to Jean-Marc. Boillot runs his domaine from his grandfather Henri Boillot’s house and cellars in the village of Pommard. Jean-Marc’s maternal grandfather was the late Etienne Sauzet, from whom he also inherited exceptional vineyards.

The 2021 Macon-Villages has a clear and brilliant appearance with a silver luster and green reflections. The bouquet is a range of delicate and generous fruits. In the mouth the wine shows a creamy texture with a beautiful balance between refreshing sweet fruit flavors and juicy, mouthwatering acidity. A wine to be enjoyed immediately. 

Winemaker Description

From the vineyards of Kerem Ben Zimra. A fruity wine bursting with citrus and tropical fruit flavors, unoaked Dalton offers a new and exciting facet to Chardonnay wine, in keeping with its Mediterranean origins.

Kosher for Passover.