Christmas Day highlights (1): Le Moine Saint-Romain 11, Mulderbosch 13, Floridene 12

bordeaux burgundy chardonnay chenin blanc south africa

Christmas Day highlights (1): Le Moine Saint-Romain 11, Mulderbosch 13, Floridene 12

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Some excellent wines yesterday for Christmas Day with family. I’m going to write up the highlights in two posts. The wines deserve it. First, three whites, all of which exceeded expectations.

Lucien Le Moine Hospices de Beaune Saint-Romain Cuvee Joseph Menault 2011 Burgundy, France
Bottled for Marks & Spencer, this Hopsice wine is sensational. It has an amazing precise nose of intense mineral and matchstick reduction, with citrussy fruit. The palate is linear, lemony, reductive and intense with lovely tension. A brilliant white Burgundy that belies its appellation. 95/100 (£35 Marks & Spencer)

Mulderbosch Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc W Block 2013 Stellenbosch, South Africa
I was quite excited to try this wine. It’s one of three single vineyard bottlings from Mulderbosch, aiming to show the influence of site on high-end Chenin. It is powerful, concentrated, minerally and intense with rich pear and peach fruit, as well as fresh citrus and spice characters. Lovely focus here with some tangerine brightness. Rich yet fresh, beautifully poised and dry. Superb stuff, and it will age well. 94/100 (Armit Wines)

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Clos Floridene 2012 Graves Blanc, Bordeaux
This is benchmark white Bordeaux from Denis Dubourdieu. A blend of roughly equal parts Sauvignon and Semillon with a touch of Muscadelle.  It’s very detailed and delicate with real elegance to the tangerine and grapefruit palate. Floral, fruity and fine, this is a really beautiful wine, and it’s a steal at the Co-op price (other merchants have this at £27). 93/100 (£18.99 Co-op)

Find these wines with wine-searcher.com

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