DRINK DIFFERENT - BURGUNDY WHITES

Even the most ardent fan of New World wines has to admit that when it comes to the apogee of white wine making, Burgundy is where it is at; nowhere quite reaches the heights like wines from the Grand Cru vineyard of Montrachet, and the two villages it straddles, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet.

Sadly you need very deep pockets to try these wines, but help is at hand.  Montrachet is at the southern end of a 30 mile long hill called the Côte d’Or, and just south of this is another hill, made up of similar geology, called the Côte Chalonnaise.  Here you will find wines almost as good, for a fraction of the price – look out for appellations such as Montagny, Mercurey and Rully.