“The Pope of Montlouis and Vouvray—just a sublimely great producer. He knows his vineyards better than anyone and he styles his cuvées according to the contours of each vineyard. The wines are pure and clean, yet profoundly expressive. And they are still phenomenal value.”  Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay, The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste

Few grape varieties offer the range, precision, and longevity of Chenin Blanc. At its finest, it is a conduit for place, capable of translating soil, climate and intent with remarkable clarity, here explored through a focused set of dry wines. 

Well into autumn, it’s the right moment to turn to the Rhône. As the days cool and the light softens, these are exactly the kinds of wines one wants to drink: textured whites, savoury reds, and bottles with both character and comfort.

Seldom have we witnessed such a stark contrast between consecutive vintages as Daniel Bouland’s 2023s and 2024s. To take nothing away from the previous vintage—an ample and gourmand Beaujolais year that produced excellent wines—2024 finds Bouland’s Morgon back in a much more classical style...

Some of the best things happen slowly. Aurélien Laherte took over the family estate in 2005, in his early twenties, succeeding his father Thierry and uncle Christian. What has followed is a steady and deliberate evolution—both in the vineyard and the cellar—that now places Laherte among the most distinctive voices in the region...

Australia’s roll call for Aligoté makes for short reading. There are small parcels in Whitfield and Margaret River (at Blind Corner), and then there’s the mother vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula—the source of cuttings for both...