Spring Wine: five cool French whites that only taste like they cost a fortune
Spring Wine: five cool French whites that only taste like they cost a fortune
Spring dishes beg to be paired with delicate, aromatic and refreshing whites, and these days I’m looking to Europe to find them—especially into the corners of France, where modern techniques have galvanized local grapes with better brightness and definition while maintaining their nuances of terroir. Here, five of my favourite recent releases.
Read More
- 272359
- <p><strong>$13.95 | Loire Valley | 87 points</strong></p><br /> Muscadet is a light, crisp, stony seaside white from the melon de Bourgogne grape grown in vineyards at the Atlantic mouth of the Loire River. The mild, briny, green apple and lemon-lime aromas and flavours are a great match for an oyster feast. <a href="http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=323816&ITEM_NUMBER=323816&language=EN" target="_blank">LCBO 323816</a>
- Chateau du Cléray 2012 Muscadet Sévre et Maine
- Chateau du Cléray 2012 Muscadet Sévre et Maine
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-01-e1398883887595-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-01.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-01.jpg
- 667
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-spring-wines/slide/best-spring-wines-01/
- best-spring-wines-01
- 0
- 0
- 272360
- <p><strong>$12 | Côtes de Thongue | 87 points</strong></p><br /> This fresh wine has life and lift. It’s a blend of vibrant, herbal sauvignon blanc (lime, evergreen) and softer, perfumed viognier (starfruit, anise, orange) from the deep Mediterranean south. Chill well and try it with Asian stir-fries and salads. <a href="http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=348904&ITEM_NUMBER=348904&language=EN" target="_blank">LCBO 348904</a>
- L’arjolle 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Viognier
- L’arjolle 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Viognier
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-02-e1398883867879-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-02.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-02.jpg
- 667
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-spring-wines/slide/best-spring-wines-02/
- best-spring-wines-02
- 0
- 0
- 272361
- <p><strong>$14 | Alsace | 89 points</strong></p><br /> Alsatian muscat is obscure, underpriced and completely underrated due to its intensely floral perfumed nose of lavender and ginger. You like it or you don’t. <br /> This edition is dry but smooth, balanced and loaded with fruit. Try it with mussels, strong white cheese or asparagus. <a href="http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=320440&ITEM_NUMBER=320440&language=EN" target="_blank">LCBO 320440</a>
- Jean Geiler 2012 Muscat Réserve
- Jean Geiler 2012 Muscat Réserve
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-03-e1398883844378-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-03.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-03.jpg
- 667
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-spring-wines/slide/best-spring-wines-03/
- best-spring-wines-03
- 0
- 0
- 272362
- <p><strong>$14.75 | Alsace | 88 points</strong></p><br /> This pale white captures the subtle dried peach and pear, citrus, and herbal notes of the lesser-known sylvaner grape. It’s well balanced with fresh, almost tingling acidity, good length and a lemony pear finish. Delicate fish, pork and seafood dishes will be nicely cushioned by this understated wine. <a href="http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=361543&ITEM_NUMBER=361543&language=EN" target="_blank">LCBO 361543</a>
- Hugel 2012 Sylvaner
- Hugel 2012 Sylvaner
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-04-e1398883802400-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-04.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-04.jpg
- 667
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-spring-wines/slide/best-spring-wines-04/
- best-spring-wines-04
- 0
- 0
- 272363
- <p><strong>$26.70 | Burgundy | 90 points</strong></p><br /> A stylish, modern chardonnay from a limestone-based appellation known for sophisticated, understated whites. Oak spice and vague smokiness underlie the baked apple fruit and bready aromas. It’s mid-weight, solid and fairly dense with firm acidity and minerality on the finish. Great for a formal dinner. <a href="http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=361683&ITEM_NUMBER=361683&language=EN" target="_blank">LCBO 361683</a>
- Joseph Drouhin 2012 Pouilly-Fuissé
- Joseph Drouhin 2012 Pouilly-Fuissé
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-05-e1398883823804-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-05.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-05.jpg
- 667
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-spring-wines/slide/best-spring-wines-05/
- best-spring-wines-05
- 0
- 0
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/best-spring-wines/&title=Spring Wine: five cool French whites that only taste like they cost a fortune&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-spring-wines-624x395.jpg&description=By David Lawrason
Spring dishes beg to be paired with delicate, aromatic and refreshing whites, and these days I’m looking to Europe to find them—especially into the corners of France, where modern techniques have galvanized local grapes with better brightness and definition while maintaining their nuances of terroir. Here, five of my favourite recent releases.
[gallery columns="5" ids="272359,272360,272361,272362,272363"]){kind=link}