2014 Arnaud Ente Bourgogne Blanc

Domaine Arnaud Ente is a 12-acre domain founded by Arnaud Ente in 1992. Based in Meursault, Burgundy, the domaine has parcels in the Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Bourgogne appellations. The estate makes only about 1,250 cases of wine annually but is widely admired for its premier cru Chardonnays. Clive Coates has described winemaker Arnaud Ente as “one of the best growers to come to the fore in the last decade.” Robert M. Parker Jr. has called the domaine’s wines “extraordinary” and notes that although Ente has only been producing wines under his own name since 1994, the domaine “is well on its way to becoming a household name.”

Burgundy in eastern France is, if not the most famous and storied wine region in the world, certainly one of the top two or three. Its winemaking history dates from the Roman era, and its relatively small size and reputation for outstanding wines means that the best wines of Burgundy are generally among the world’s most prized – and costly – wines. At about 110,000 vineyards acres, Burgundy is only 40% as big as Bordeaux, and its system of dividing up vineyards into small, family-owned parcels makes understanding the wines of Burgundy a life-long pursuit for Burgundy enthusiasts. The three main grapes of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay. Burgundy is a long, narrow, north-south running region consisting of five main areas. They are Chablis in the north, Côte D’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Beaujolais, which is just above the Rhone Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown throughout most of Burgundy but Gamay is grown primarily in Beaujolais. The appellation system and rules about labeling can be confusing and the system classifies regions, villages and even individual vineyards. Grand Cru is the most prestigious appellation category, followed by Premier Cru and many village and regional appellations.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.