13.5% abv, La Sœur Caserta Saint-Père, imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: leaf day.  

The wines of Vézelay, a sleepy hamlet hilltop village famous for the Basilica with the relics of Mary Magdalene are having a moment! Promoted from regional appellation to village level in 2017. Now on a level with heavyweights like Meursault, but markedly different in style more akin to Chablis, Vézelay wines stand out for their unique position in the Yonne department quite far south from Auxerre.

Winery notes: “Domaine Montanet-Thoden was founded in 2000 by Catherine Montanet of Domaine de La Cadette in collaboration with associate Tom Thoden. Certified organic, stainless steel aged from a 6ha vineyard planted to Chardonnay in the mid 1990 and early 2000s. Though Catherine was still very much involved with La Cadette, she created the new domaine from her family’s vineyards, which express a character of their own due to slight differences in the underlying terroir. Additional planting in the early 2000s brought the total vineyard area up to eight hectares, which are now managed by Catherine’s son, Valentin. Confident in the natural, traditional approach that Catherine had established from the start, Valentin maintained the methods and standards used by both of his parents to fashion fresh, succulent wines.”

Tasting note: Pale gold in color with a clean nose of medium+ intensity with aromas of blossom, nectarine, butter and beeswax. On the palate this wine is dry with medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, medium body, medium flavor intensity and a medium+ finish with flavors or chamomile, lime skin, lemon curd, nectarine, white peach, and a hint of butterscotch. This wine is very good: 9.3/10. Drink now or through 2027.