Just back from a lovely family day out. A sunny October Saturday began with a walk at Box Hill in Surrey, followed by a pub lunch in Chilworth and a walk along the river Wey. Miraculously the kids enjoyed it too, and so everyone was happy.

Another couple of data points added to my Chardonnay trail last night. I quite like comparing extremes, so I matched Chilean heavyweight Montes Alpha with a fresh, rather frail-looking Chablis.

Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2004 Casablanca Valley, Chile
Powerful, almost pungent nose of rich, herbal, figgy, slightly cabbgey fruit. The palate is quite thick and concentrated with a poweful herbal tang to the fruit that reminds me a bit of papaya. It's all about the fruit here, with oak relegated to a bit part. There's some pear skin character, too. Striking stuff, and great if you are in the mood for it. Very good+ 89/100 (£9.99 Majestic, Morrisons)

Simmonet Febvre Chablis 2005 Burgundy, France
Quite a rich, ull flavoured Chablis with lots of fresh, savoury, minerally fruit and good acidity. There's a bit of phenolic character, too, but all in all this is good solid full flavoured Chablis with some typicity. Very good+ 88/100