I consider any wine that causes me to take pause and ponder its existence a fine wine. Taking pause means that upon entry and swallow I have encountered something so magical and balanced, that I have to put the glass down and think about all of the elements that went into play that caused me to have felt that way. Elements such as place of origin, grape type(s), soil type, wine producer, vintage, viticulture practices, vinification processes, topography, crop size……in English, all of the components that make a fine wine taste the way it tastes. There isn’t just one element that does it; all the aforementioned have to be in sync or there can be no fine wine. And from my experience the finest wines come from small producers whose grapes have been matched with their perfect soils. The soil is the silent partner to a wine grape. Soils like the premiere cru sites in Burgundy, which produce Chablis, Pommard, Montrachet, and Vosne-Romanee. Other sites with perfect soil to grape matches include Chateau Montelena in Napa, California; this site boasts alluvial and volcanic soils. Now, a fine wine will cost more than the average wine, but the payoff to your palate is worth seeking out; and a sensory experience you will always remember.
Some to try:
William Fever Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume 2008 (Burgundy)
Fanny Sabre, Pommard 2008 (Burgundy)
Joseph Drouhin 'Folatieres' Puligny-Montrachet 2005 (Burgundy)
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay (Napa) (any vintage)
enjoy
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