2005 Louis Carillon St. Aubin Pitangerets

Domaine Louis Carillon is a 27-acre estate in Puligny-Montrachet. Among those who collect white Burgundy, the domaine is something of an insider’s secret. The family has been making wine and growing grapes in the area for nearly 400 years and the current domaine is named for the father of the two brothers, Jacques and Francois Carillon, who now run it. Carillon grows primarily Chardonnay and a small amount of Aligote. The estate includes one Grand Cru vineyard in Chevalier Montrachet, and nine Premier Crus in Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet and Saint-Aubin. Clive Coates has written that the domain’s wines “are fine but understated…when I sampled them blind in bottles they always came out near the top…and (I) buy lots for myself.”

Côte de Beaune is the southern half of the Côte d’Or. The Côte de Beaune includes 16 villages and appellations. Among the most famous communes are Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Volnay, Pommard, Beaune and Aloxe-Corton. Three of the communes include Grand Cru vineyards and there are numerous Premier Cru vineyards. Though Côte de Beaune produces outstanding red and white wines, it is especially renowned for its Chardonnays, which are considered the best in the world. The prestigious Grand Cru Chardonnays from the vineyards Corton-Charlemagne, Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet are always in high demand. The region takes its name from the village of Beaune, the unofficial capital of Burgundy. Beaune is home to many of Burgundy’s best negociants, including Joseph Drouhin, Louis Jadot and Bouchard Pere et Fils. Beaune is also home to the historic Hospices de Beaune wine auction, an annual event held by local producers for the benefit of a Beaune hospital built in the 15th century.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.