AIrving

Published at 01:00, Thursday, 23 August 2007

FORGET Sven’s £415 fine red wine treat for Sir Alex after the Manchester derby, I’ve come across a £5.99 stunner for white wine lovers. In fact, it was voted best chardonnay in the world, at the International Wine Challenge, one of the most prestigious “blind” tasting events in the world.

I discovered this half-price bargain in Cleator Moor Co-op, that Aladdin’s cave of wine which doesn’t bother to flag up its wines country by country but if you look carefully you might just find one or two which are rather different and special.

Blason De Bourgogne (Montagny) is just that. It’s a burgundian chardonnay from very old vines (Vieilles Vignes), which rocked the New World by taking a gold medal at the 2006 International Wine Challenge – judged the best French chardonnay and the best international chardonnay. That’s some honour, because Montagny lies is in the Cote Chalonnaise, regarded as the poor relation to the famous Cote D’Or but home to some of the best value-for-money burgundies, red and white.

To take a double gold, this unpretentious Blason De Bourgogne had to outstrip its far more expensive French chardonnay cousins Chablis, Mersault and Montrachet , the elite of which soar into the price stratosphere.

It deserves all the accolades. You can get good chardonnays from all over the world, especially Down Under. Australia likes to think theirs is more bench-mark than burgundy but for me many are just a little buttery, lacking the unique burgundy terroir, a character which only specific soil, vines and climate can give.

This Montagny has the dry, flinty and lemony taste of a classic chablis, only slightly oaky. The Co-op’s own wine experts sum it up perfectly... “rich and complex shot through with a steely, minerally elegance.”

It normally sells at £11.99 but it’s half-price at the Co-op until September 9 – wonder if Sven, Sir Alex or that other member of the elite football wine club, Jose from Chelsea, will save themselves some hard-earned cash?

Tesco also has the same chardonnay from the same domaine and at the same give-away price, but there’s a difference: the Co-op’s double gold medal winner is from the wonderful 2005 vintage, Tesco’s half-price is a 2006, but it’s pretty good, too.

Blasson De Bourgogne, set up four years ago, has gone from nothing to a multi-million brand which is succeeding in its stated aim to make more affordable, more attractive and more understandable for UK consumers.

They also do a red – Bourgogne pinot noir. This is a great introduction to the region’s other renowned grape, not surprising when this 2006 vintage took a bronze medal at the wine Oscars. Currently Morrisons off the best deal at £4.99 – £1 off.

Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk