Burgundy holds a place in the heart of wine lovers everywhere as the original home of modern fine wine culture. It is also the native region of two of the world’s most famous grapes – white chardonnay and red pinot noir. Few of us can afford to obtain the finest white burgundies, like Corton-Charlemagne or Le Montrachet. But, not all Burgundies are beyond reach, there remain a few modest examples that are delicious and widely available.

Cave de Mâcon Lugny Les Charmes, a simple white wine from the Mâconnais district, is one of the most popular on the export market. In superb vintages like 2006, farmer’s co-operatives like the Cave de Lugny have no difficulty crafting delicious wines. Crisp and clean, it is elegant and understated — 100 percent pure Chardonnay made in a mid-weight and un-oaked style. Without toasty, buttery oak, Chardonnay flavors are reminiscent of fresh Fuji apples and Bosc pears, accented with a mild undercurrent of nuttiness, like that of pinenuts. Best of all is this grape’s inherently silky texture, which needn’t overwhelm to impress.

This wine is impeccably put together and tastes far classier than its $10.99 price tag might suggest. Next time you’re thinking of a light white like pinot grigio to pair with simple cuisine like salad or poultry, consider a grace note like this wine instead.

Image, cave-lugny.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under What to Drink, Wine & Spirits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted by Marnie Old on 3/18/08 in What to Drink, Wine & Spirits