Joseph Drouhin Laforet Bourgogne Chardonnay '06

Country: France

Thoughts: My wife's uncle (that's my wife in the pic) described this chardonnay as unoaked, i.e. no aging in oak barrels. He said he believed California chardonnay had been too far changed from the original recipe, first by the continual use of oak barrels to age and later by the addition of butter. This, thankfully, featured none of that. And if this is what chardonnay is supposed to be, than I'm a bigger fan than I thought. The nose was wonderfully sweet, the taste was low-key yet complex. Very smooth, understated and excellent. Among the best wines I've ever tasted.

Do-over? Yes

Final Grade: A