Varietal: Chardonnay
From: Burgundy, France
Taste: Aromas of lemon, hawthorn, and a hint of quince blossom into juicier fruit pretty quickly in the glass. You'll find rounded orchard fruit and white peach accompanied by a savory element in the glass that keeps the wine from being too heady or over-the-top. The palate follows suit into a saline, mineral, lip-smacking finish that'll have you craving another glass before you know it. Overall, this overachiever of a wine shows much more sophistication than its appellation would suggest, and we're thrilled to be able to share this wine with you.
Pairing: An excellent aperitif and "food wine," you'll have lots of options for pairings that encompass vegetable, seafood, and poultry. Personally, we love pairing this wine with dim sum, take-out from Laem Buri or Greentree (both local restaurants across the street from the wine shop), or Dungeness crab.
About. Agnes Paquet, an Elden Selections producer who is one of the most exciting talents in winemaking today, is clear about the incredible potential of these wines. "The terroirs are just as rich and diversified as those on the Côte d'Or," she says. The vines have come through a tricky period a few decades ago when maturation was an issue, but the conditions are now perfect. Today there is a real demand here.
The appellation Hautes-Côtes de Beaune may have only come into being in 1961, but the grapes of this hallowed place have been enjoyed for many centuries. At the Coronation of Philippe Auguste in 1180, for example, the guests slaked their thirst with these wines. More recently, they haven’t been immune from the phylloxera blight in the early years of the 20th century, when nearly 50% of the vineyards were obliterated.
White wines from this region are capable of great variety of flavor and aroma. The nose may give white fruits (pear, apple), liquorice, lemon or honeysuckle, whilst the palate gets fresh fruitiness and a subtle minerality. These are excellent aperitif wines, as well as going with a wide array of fish and seafood.”
