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Joelle Thomson's Amazing Value Picks: New wave whites
Like most of the worldās classic wines, the best whites have traditionally been considered to come from France but times they are achanging. In fact, they have changed. Argentina, Spain, California and the south of France are all now home to some of the worldās tastiest and best value for money white wines ā and these countriesā wines are all present and counted in this weekās top bunch.
Each of these countries and regions were once looked down on as poor cousins to the worldās great classic wine regions but the following wines show that an exciting new story is emerging.
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Star wine of the week -Ā 2018 Finca Martha Chardonnay
4 stars,Ā 17.5/20
Chardonnay is king of Argentinaās new wave white wines. Itās the worldās most popular white wine and this one highlights that thereās far more to Argentina than big beautiful Malbecs. Itās refreshing to taste top shelf, high quality dry Chardonnays, such as this powerful citrusy and beautifully balanced wine. Itās proof that the worldās most popular white wine can come from many different places today, including so-called ānew worldā wine countries.Ā Sealed with a screwcap.Ā
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2018 Casa Safra Verdejo SpainĀ
17/20,Ā 4 stars
If youāre all over Spanish reds, try this tasty dry Spanish white made from the great Verdejo grape ā one of Spainās rock stars of the wine world. If youāre a fan of Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, then this wineās bright fresh acidity and full body will wow you. Itās a different wine in taste but easy to relate to ā a stunner and sealed with a screwcap, which retains freshness.
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2016 Domaine de Sainte CĆ©cile Chardonnay
19/20,Ā 4.5 stars
Fab big, beautiful, creamy Chardonnay from the sun drenched Languedoc, which winds its way around Franceās southern Mediterranean coast where the climate provides consistent warmth for grapes to ripen into deliciously flavoursome drops such as this one. Itās rich peachy flavours, full bodied, dry, smooth and lingering on the finish. Outstanding value.
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2016 Crosby California ChardonnayĀ
17.5/20,Ā 4 stars
Meet another crowd pleasing Chardonnay, this time from California ā a warm, dry, Mediterranean-like climate, which produces whites with big, rich, peachy flavours. This wine shows Chardonnay from a warm climate at its best, thanks to the balancing fresh acidity in the wine, which give this wine its lingering finish.
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2018 Philippe Bouchard Macon Villages AOPĀ
17/20,Ā 4 stars
This classic dry, full bodied Chardonnay comes from the grapeās traditional French home in Burgundy, only itās from southern Burgundy rather than the north ā which has long been home to the most highly priced (and prized) Chardonnays in the world. By contrast, this wine comes from the vast Macon region, south of the golden slopes of the Cotes dāOr. Itās tropical and peachy with freshness to burn. Great value.
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2018 Domaine de Sainte-Cecile Viognier Pays dāOcĀ
17.5/20,Ā 4 stars
Viognier is one of the great whites of the world and this popular, full bodied wine comes from the south of France, not far from Viognierās traditional home in the northern Rhone Valley. This wine is dry, flavoursome with great depth of flavour ā apricots and peach ā and a full body. A decadentĀ and delicious alternate white wine.
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Joelle Thomson is a wine writer, journalist and author. Sheās an avid lover of wine and currently writes for Capital magazine, Good magazine, NZ Winegrower, Drinksbiz, and her own site,Ā www.joellethomson.com.
She also teaches, works in radio, and more, so we've enlisted her help to sniff out our amazing value wines!
