2005 Damien Laureau Savennières Le Bel Ouvrage , $32, Jon-David Headrick Selections, Imported by European Cellars. That's to be expected from 2005, but it was also very floral and mineral with an almost powdery sense to it, and with great poise and balance. assumed it was Savagin, but Sophie told us that it is Chardonnay in 2001. MORE >>

The Puzelats grow Pinot Noir, Gamay, Côt (called Malbec in Argentina), Bréton (called Cabernet Franc in the film Sideways ), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris (called Pinot Grigio in Italy), and the rarely seen Pineau D'Aunis and Menu Pineau (called Arbois in the Jura). 2005 Puzelat Touraine La Tesni è res , $19. It works. MORE >>

2002 Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling, Eden Valley. 2005 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River. 2006 Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills. NV Pirie Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, Tasmania. 2005 Jacob’s Creek Steingarten Riesling, Barossa. Chardonnay (4A). MORE >>

He brought a few truly special bottles of wine from France for this dinner, one of which was the 2002 Benoît Lahaye Brut Champagne Millésime. This version is, anyway, which I am guessing is based on 2005 grapes, bottled in 2006, and disgorged in August of 2008 based on the hard-to-spot code on the back label that reads "08 2008." MORE >>

began in a French table area and tried some Sancerres (made from Sauvignon Blanc), some white Burgundys (made from Chardonnay) and some white blends. He wants his wines to show a nice purity of fruit (Chardonnay) and as such uses large 600 liter (mostly neutral) barrels. Made from Chardonnay, this wine had an exploding bouquet. MORE >>