Choosing a delicious wine to drink is all about preference, but a recommendation can go a long way. There are many wine enthusiasts who prefer to stick to white wine varieties, and those that only partake with red wines. I myself enjoy many styles and grape varieties, as long as they are delicious. So let us try to convince the red connoisseurs there are beautiful whites and change their wine world forever. Carrie for one was transformed by the Burgundy whites we tasted during our trip. These beautiful wines are made from the Chardonnay grape, which produces floral wines with notes of citrus, they are delectable and often complex.
We embarked on our world of whites at the restaurant Olivier Leflaive, who beautifully pair their wine with a delectable three-course meal. The wine making philosophy is simple: quality wines are all about the quality of the grapes. Olivier Leflaive cultivate a relationship with some of the best wine growers in the region, who carefully tend their vines and respect the terroir of the Côte d’Or. The family feel of the company is preserved by a small expert team of wine makers. The hands on experience is evident in their great relationship with clients.
The first course was a rich citrusy gravlax salmon, paired with three white Burgundy’s: Meursault « Tillets » 2015, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru « Champlots » 2014, Puligny-Montrachet « Enseignères » 2015. We found that the Meursault with its minerality and fresh citrus, mostly lemon, matched the salmon best. However, on its own our favorite was the Puligny-Montrachet, as it had the most intense and bold flavor; it offered nice citrus notes, a lovely minerality, and a delicate toasted flavor with a long finish. Neither of those was a Premier or Grand Cru, the quality of wines in the region is superb at any level, especially during a good harvest year.
We followed with a roasted guinea fowl supreme, confit fennel and raw cauliflower paired with three additional whites: Meursault 1er Cru « Genevrières» 2014, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru « Abbaye de Morgeot » 2014, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru « Champ Gain » 2014. All of these magical wines were premier cru, the second tier of classified Burgundy wines, just below the grand cru, coming from the best classified vineyards in the region. As we get to the premier cru we find that floral flavors are intensified and characteristics become stronger. Wine is full-bodied, with intense toasty notes and a long finish.
I brought home the Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru and used it to toast with my husband on our wedding anniversary. As a 2014 it was ready to drink, and we enjoyed the spices on the nose, the lovely white peach and toast flavors, a beautifully balanced wine with a nice long finish. Purchasing it directly from the winemaker afforded us a nicer wine than what we could find in our local store. The wines started under twenty euros and none that we tasted were above eighty euros. The Montrachet landed in a nicer middle range, and was not at the most expensive end of the list.
We finished the meal with a selection of cheeses. French cheese is absolutely divine, the goat is a personal favorite, it is very strong in personality and delightfully salty. The compte was aged to perfection, offering a nutty flavor, and was totally scrumptious. You shouldn’t leave without trying a soft cheese from the region, the flavor can range from mild to intense, with a lovely creaminess. Cheese is also an excellent course to pair with dry wines, as most sweet dessert dishes need a sweet wine to match. Here we moved into one white and two reds: Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru « Referts » 2014, Aloxe-Corton 2014, Volnay 1er Cru « Clos de angles » 2012. The reds were delicious aromatic Pinot Noirs that pushed us through a range of red fruits. With age you can find more animal, leather and mushroom flavors develop. They are light on tannins and depending on vintages can be smooth or harsh, but a very elegant wine of the region.
Tasting different wines with each course of a meal is a great way to see which wines you prefer to enjoy with a type of meal. It gives an affordable way to compare nice wines, so you can splurge on the one you really want to take home and save. We had such a fun lunch tasting and pairing at Olivier Leflaive, and would recommend adding this to your Burgundy wine tour.