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. Oh no, my friends, I've been a very lucky Brooklynguy lately, in large part due to the generosity of friends.

The Cotes de Jura Chardonnay 2006 is matured in neutral oak barrels and has a vein of minerality so rich it would out Chablis out of business if the world craved minerally chardonnay. But the piece de resistance was the 2000 “vin de voile&# (aka vin jaune ) from the micro-appellation of Chateau-Chalon. Really.

And when we think of where Chardonnay is today in the human consciousness it is easy to ignore or not even be able to contemplate its humble beginnings. Before Cali, before the new world there was chardonnay but even then it was considered the new kid on the block.in And when it did Chardonnay was born. theory. Cheers

vaguely recall we popped 1996 Pol Roger, 2000 Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre, 1996 Roulot Tessons and 1993 Mugnier C-M Les Fuees. After the usual floundering around that accompanies this sort of exercise, I pegged it as a reasonable quality Petit Chablis or Chablis AC, perhaps from the Chablisienne cooperative? Do check it out.

Hafner Cabernet and Chardonnay are house wines at pop-in-law's. 2002 Domaine William Fevre 2002 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros , price unknown but probably about $45. 2000 Baumard Cremant de Loire Cuvee Millisime, $7 per glass at Cafe Chloe (below). I always enjoy visiting the in-laws in the San Diego area. Where are the minerals?