There are wines made from Chardonnay, Melon-Queue-Rouge , and Savagnin, and there are ouille (topped up) and sous-voile (oxidized) styles. This is Chardonnay from vines of over 100 years old. I was lucky to attend a dinner recently at which Levi Dalton poured a large selection of Jean-François Ganevat's wines. And indeed it was. MORE >>

1999, 2000) Ta rlant Champagne La Vigne d'Antan Extra Brut Non-Grefée Chardonnay, $65, $60, 1999 imported by JD Headrick Selections, 2000 Imported by Jandell Selections. The first release was based on the 1999 vintage, blended with roughly 25 percent of 1998, while the follow-up version was made entirely from the 2000 vintage. MORE >>

” After eyeing it for some time, Bob Davids acquired an apparently gorgeous, 350-acre parcel in the Santa Rita Hills in 1999 for his label Sea Smoke. The winery produces four pinot noirs and two chardonnays; all bear the term “California Grand Cru” for the 2009 vintage. The term is pure marketing. MORE >>

This wine is all Bouzy, a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, but it reminded me of a wine I tasted a few years ago by Moutard that is made with the obscure grapes of Champagne, things like Arbanne and Petit Meslier. And the 1999 Eric Texier Cô te-Rôtie , a wine that fooled all of us. This neighbor raises pigs. Some wine too. MORE >>

The other white was a Pannobile Chardonnay that I thought was completely overwhelmed by vanilla oaky aromas. Schiefer also poured his 1999 Blaufränkisch Reihberg and I loved it. I was lucky enough to be invited to the recent Blaufränkisch tasting and luncheon at Gramercy Tavern, organized by David Schildnecht. was a clean slate. MORE >>