French White Wine

Lower ABV Vin de France can allow for some unique and downright enjoyable combos like this 50/50 Picpoul and Roussanne blend by Boutinot. A dynamic and delicious combo, it melds effortlessly the melon and nutty notes of Roussanne... Read More

Organic/Bio Vincent Boyer has moved his old family estate to organic farming and now gives his wines two years elevage – one in 5-8 year-old barrel and a second in concrete egg. This wine, from sites in lower Meursault,... Read More

Organic/Bio What do Cognac makers drink for an aperitif or at lunch? Pineau des Charentes! And this is one of the very finest from Cognac's first organic estate. The wine starts with fresh, unfermented, juice from the Cognac... Read More

From the finest slice of Puligny's large Folatieres 1er Cru, on the steepest sloped section of the vineyard where the soils are stony and pour and the exposure almost due south. You'll taste the sunshine here in richly... Read More

In this very short harvest, there's a little more oak influence to Sylvain's village Puligny (not more new wood, but more second and third use barrels that needed to be kept full!). It just makes this lovely Chardonnay... Read More

I believe the technical tasting note for this wine, as approved by all the most serious wine writers, is: Hubba Hubba. There’s this thing white Burgundy winemakers do where they let the wine sit in the barrel on what’s... Read More

I certainly didn’t expect to write this, but Sylvain Bzikot’s 2023 village Puligny Montrachet is even better than his outstanding 2022 edition. It’s from several plots of vines above the village of Puligny including... Read More

This does just what good Languedoc Chardonnay is supposed to do: give you a nice dollop of Chardonnay varietal flavors with no oak or butter to get in the way of thirst-quenching delight. You’ll enjoy the sliced apple, crisp... Read More

Lower ABV Bordeaux Blanc in all but name – a quirk in the French wine laws – but in a Pouilly Fume/Sancerre style. It’s all Sauvignon Blanc with big lemon pulp fruit and a mouthwatering pepper spice. Winemaker... Read More

Organic/Bio Jura is famous for its oxidative whites, but that's not what's going on here! This is pure, fresh, and highly delicious Chardonnay from alpine vineyards with no noticeable oak influence at all. Delicious pear... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV A stunning value in top-notch Muscadet from the important Chateau Thebaud Cru. Antoine Delaunay farms his vines organically, uses no sulfur in the winery until a tiny touch at bottling, and gives all his... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV The 3HA plot of 50 year-old vines across from Mont de Milieu was meant to be a test for the winery’s conversion to organic farming. But the wine was so good that today it’s bottled on its own.... Read More

Lower ABV Fun, delicious, highly drinkable, Sauvignon Blanc with just a bit more going on than the modest price would suggest. You’ll find a big burst of green melon, ripe peach and grapefruit zest aromas and flavors with... Read More

Lower ABV I certainly wouldn’t try to tell the 2023 Chauveau Pouilly Fume La Charmette apart from a $40+ Sancerre when tasting blind. Not surprising: its from the same Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Kimmeridgian marl and limestone... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV This is a delicious wine, a tremendous value, and a knock-out house white to enjoy now-2030. Don't let the low price and humble appellation fool you - there is very high-end and expensive winegrowing... Read More

Lovely, vibrant, 1er Cru white Burgundy from a cool site in Saint Aubin, just behind Puligny-Montrachet. White peach, nectarine, toasted nut and light butter notes show on the nose with a push of chalky minerality, crisp citric... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Take the wild and delicious character of the Brana Ilori, source the grapes from older vines and age 30% in barrel and you get this – what Chablis would taste like if a bunch of Basque wine-people grew... Read More

Lower ABV Francis Boudin captures the essence of the sunny Fourchaume vineyard here in a rich and nicely fresh, no-oak, Chablis. The wine smells and feels nicely concentrated and deep with green orchard fruit, fresh citrus and... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Jeremie Huchet is making some of the most exciting wines in the western Loire region of Muscadet, including this generous example from vineyards on a hill overlooking the Maine River. It’s from organically... Read More

From a tiny, half-acre, plot of Chardonnay in the Beaune 1er Reversees 1er Cru just up the hill to the west of Beaune, this is the only white wine bottled from this mainly red wine vineyard. Farming here is certified organic and... Read More

Lower ABV Forget the “Petit” here – this is real, classic, fresh, salty/stony, mouthwatering Chablis. From a site above Cote de Lechet riddled with limestone rocks, it’s all about crunchy green apple, lime... Read More

Lower ABV This is the current release of Cote de Lechet from Defaix, and that alone should tell you that you’re in for something a little different than the “typical” Chablis. Daniel is the 14th generation of... Read More

Organic/Bio Just a short distance from Sancerre, Pouilly Fume showcases the smokier, gunflint, side of Sauvignon Blanc. Especially at this outstanding estate run by 8th generation winegrower Katia Mauroy-Gauliez working with some... Read More

Lower ABV Melon de Bourgogne grown on schist soils gives more cut, energy and freshness than pure limestone, and schist around 15 inches under the top-soil is the secret to this delicious seafood and sipping white. Green apple,... Read More

Organic/Bio Eric Bonnet took over his family estate in 1999, so he has 25 years of organic farming and careful winemaking experience behind him now. It shows in this challenging vintage as he's crafted a stunning white from... Read More