White Burgundy

[hotwine]

Although Maison Champy is said to be the oldest producer in Burgundy, having been founded in 1790, its reds are more highly prized than its whites. The house was not highly regarded for many years, and only revived in 1990. The "white Burgundy" (or Bourgogne Blanc) carries a modest retail price, on the order of $16-$20 it appears, whereas its reds can run several times that amount.

There are many producers in the Burgundy region, and they use several grapes other than Chardonnay. Our favorite from the region is a Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre. The general shape of the bottle in that case is as given earlier, with a low sloping shoulder. It also has a slightly wider diameter than a Bordeaux-style bottle.