Chateau de Corcelles - Beaujolais Blanc 2023
Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $19.99
6+ Price: $18.99 / btl
| Producer | Chateau de Corcelles |
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| Country | France |
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| Region | Beaujolais |
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| Varietal | Chardonnay |
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| Vintage | 2023 |
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| Sku | 19138 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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“could be mistaken for a village wine from Burgundy” James Suckling on 92 pt 2020
I remarked to Rich the other day I feel there has never been a better time to be a lover of Chardonnay. The overall quality and range of styles are incredible. The trick is finding value.
Let’s turn our attention to Beaujolais. Located just south of the Macon region, Beaujolais is not just a neighbor. Parts of the Beaujolais Blanc appellation actually overlap with those of the Macon, including the most prestigious areas of Pouilly-Fuisse and St. Veran.
And yet, Beaujolais Blanc is a rarity. Porquoi? The usual… history, tradition and marketing! Over time, the Beaujolais region became known for its Gamay-based reds. When the appellation was formed in 1936, the influential wineries made sure this was codified – no more than 15% of any vineyard can be planted to white grapes. Since Beaujolais is largely made up of small vineyards, this virtually eliminated Chardonnay from the equation. Today, only about 2% of the region’s production is white.
Lucky for you, we found one. And not just any winery… Ch. De Corcelles is owned by the Richard family of Chateauneuf du Pape’s famed Ch. La Nerthe. They know a thing or ten about making quality wine! Grapes for this gem come primarily from vineyards in Pruzilly and Saint Verand. Yes, that is the same as the famed Saint Veran of Macon. Pruzilly abuts Saint Veran while the vineyards surrounding the estate in Corcelles are a mere 5 miles away.
So… let’s recap… Chardonnay made by owners of a legendary estate, from vineyards basically a continuation of, and including those in, the top areas of Macon, namely St. Veran… as low as $17.99? Sign me up!
A wonderfully crowd-pleasing style, offering a delicate nose of flowers, peaches and apples that lead into a wine with more weight than the nose might suggest. Slightly exotic notes of lychee and passion fruit come forward in the mouth, buoyed by a rounded texture from just a bit of oak aging. Just the right amount of acidity pulls everything together. Delicious with a wide range of settings and food, from the porch to the patio to a picnic… with delicate cheeses, fish or poultry.
The only caveat is I grabbed the last ten cases in the US.
Want some?
James Suckling: 92 Points
"An excellent example of the new chardonnay whites of Beaujolais. Very good substance and textural complexity on the generous, medium-bodied palate. Ample tannins, both from fruit and oak that neatly interlock. Long, bold and balanced finish. Sustainable. From a clay-limestone soil. 40% was matured in 600-liter oak casks, 60% in stainless steel tanks, all with malolactic fermentation. Drink or hold."
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