Le Coin Sauvignon Gris 2011
Bordeaux AOC
Laithwaites £9.49
13.50%
100% Sauvignon Gris
Produced by Le Chai au Quai
Very catty and herbal nose. Like you’ve been trampling through nettles (with boots on, obviously). The taste is a bit astringent. Makes you pull a face. A pity.
Les Rochettes 2011
Pouilly Fumé AOC
Laithwaites £13.49
12.50%
100% Sauvignon
Produced by CPL la Tuilerie
Wonderfully creamy, mineral nose. It really screams of the Loire. The palate is quite rounded initially. There’s plenty of sharp, bright, sauvignon sensation, but it’s creamy and rounded. Very nice to drink.
Domaine Michel Thomas 2011
Sancerre AOC
Laithwaites £13.99
13%
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Savoury nose. Dry, pithy, sharp and typical.
Château Soucherie Clos des Perrières 2009
Savennières AOC
Laithwaites £21.00
13.50%
100% Chenin Blanc
Produced by Château Soucherie
Heavy bottle and deep gold wine. A beautiful nose. Nutty and promising. This is beautiful! Lovely tangy acidity, ripe fruit and plenty of savoury loveliness to balance. Hauntingly fragrant.
Domaine Servin les Pargues 2010
Chablis AOC
Laithwaites £13.49
12.50%
100% Chardonay
Produced by Domaine Servin
Quite a deep gold colour. Fat nose, promising ripeness. Clearly chardonnay, with lovely weight, and then a sharp and attractive acidity. And oak, surely? Very structured. Very nice indeed.
Château de Puligny, Puligny-Montrachet 2008
Laithwaites £40.00
12.50%
100% Chardonnay
Produced by Château de Puligny
Gold colour. Wonderful buttery, oaky, promising nose. It tastes absolutely wonderful. Full-on white burg. This sort of wine just cannot be beaten. Such balance, such complexity. Can’t bear that it’s £40 and I can’t afford it.
Domaine Fontaine Gagnard,
Chassagne-Montrachet 2008
Laithwaites £35.00
13%
100% Chardonnay
Not quite as immediately attractive as the Ch de Puligny. Very oaky and quite disjointed.
Domaine François Jobard Meursault
En La Barre 2007
Meursault AOC
Laithwaites £36.00
13%
100% Chardonnay
Fat, tropical nose. Bone dry and oaky taste. Just starting to be nutty. Needs a year or two more. However, great with a savoury starter.
Domaine Rapet Corton-Charlemagne
Grand Cru 2006
Laithwaites £60.00
13%
100% Chardonnay
Deep, rich and exciting nose. Powerful, but almost steely. There’s nothing New Worldy about this. It’s correct and aching with quality. Lovely, but if this is your budget, don’t waste it on friends who don’t understand, because they just won’t.
Domaine les Quatre Pilas 2011
Languedoc AOP
Laithwaites £8.49
13%
65% Roussanne, 28% Vermentino, 7% Viognier
Produced by Domaine les Quatre Pilas
Difficult to be tasted straight after expensive white Burgundy. This has fresh and bright pear-drop aroma. It’s not unpleasant, but is taking a hit for the next wines.
Un Vent de Folie Vermentino 2011
Vin de France
Laithwaites £9.99
12.50%
100% Vermentino
Produced by Le Chai au Quai
Fruity nose. Savoury and dry taste. Good for food. Nice, but not for beginners.