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ChardonnayClassic, estate-grown Petit Chablis with old-vine, honeyed lemon intensity and mineral freshnessExpected back in stock 01 August 2024Add to Basket if you're happy to wait£14.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:Italy
CorteseVilla Broglia is a bright star in Gavi in brilliant form with this superb Anniversary edition£21.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£24.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORSouth Africa
Chenin BlancSuperb, old-vine Chenin Blanc from Trophy-winning Gerhard Swarts. Rich, creamy peach, gentle spice£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:ORNew Zealand
AlbariñoSpain's much-loved Albariño exported to New Zealand's Marlborough in this citrusy, ripe pear white£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:ORFrance
ChardonnayFine 1er Cru Chablis from the historic Servin family and a top vintage. Finesse, delicacy and length£27.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£29.00 per bottleQty bottles:£324.00 £348.001 case (12 bottles) - £27.00 per bottleSave £24.00Sorry. This item is not available in the QTY entered. Please adjust QTY or speak to one of our advisors.Qty cases:South Africa
Chenin BlancFor Grand Cru style South African Chenin Blanc, you won't find finer than this 96-point white£30.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£33.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORSouth Africa
ChardonnayExceptional, cool-climate, oak-spiced Chardonnay from two-time winner of the Best SA Chardonnay£26.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£28.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORFrance
Sauvignon BlancClassic, aromatic Sancerre with intense, flinty, citrus elegance from this small family domaine£18.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£21.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORSouth Africa
ChardonnayFrom top estate Hamilton Russell and the renowned Hemel-en-Aarde region, this is a 93pt Chardonnay£35.00 per bottleQty bottles:£210.001 case (6 bottles) - £35.00 per bottleQty cases:France
ChardonnayDelicious, top-vintage, mineral-fresh Chablis from one of the region’s most decorated producers£19.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£22.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORNew Zealand
Sauvignon BlancFrom the 'World's Best Sauvignon' winner and 'Winery of the Year', this is a standout Kiwi white£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:ORSouth Africa
ChardonnayReserve this wine£160.00* 1 case (6 bottles)First instalment (1 of 2)* Plus a second installment of VAT and Duty paid at the time of despatchQty cases:France
ChardonnayWhite Burgundy from an exceptional winemaker and a top vintage. Lush creamy fruit and minerality£23.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£25.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORFrance
ChardonnayFrom an impressive, 300-year-old family estate, a superb white with more than a touch of Puligny£27.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£33.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORNew Zealand
Sauvignon BlancMarlborough’s best-known Sauvignon Blanc, for good reason, particularly fine and delicious in 2023£25.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£26.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORFrance
ChardonnayRemarkably intense Chablis with a classic mineral streak from this exceptional family domaine£29.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£30.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORItaly
Pinot GrigioFabulous quality Pinot Grigio from the superb Friuli and 100-point winemaker Steffano Chioccioli£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:ORNew Zealand
Sauvignon BlancFrom 2021s 'World's Best Sauvignon' winner and 'Winery of the Year', this is a standout Kiwi white£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:ORFrance
ChardonnayClassic, estate-grown Chablis with finesse and old-vine intensity from the excellent Dampt estate£19.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£22.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORFrance
Sauvignon BlancIntensely citrusy, mineral-fresh and flinty Sancerre from some of the region’s very finest£19.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£24.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORUnited States
ChardonnayLuscious Chardonnay from the renowned Russian River Valley, made by a hush-hush premium producer£19.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£23.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORNew Zealand
Sauvignon BlancFrom the superb Hunter estate, exceptional Marlborough Savvy from the original Home Block Vineyard£19.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£23.00 per bottleQty bottles:ORFrance
AligotéExciting white Burgundy made from under-the-radar Aligoté. Beautifully fresh with a creamy lemon zip£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
So what defines a fine white wine? Well, the truth is there is no official definition of fine wine. And you’ll find many different answers if you have a quick search online. To some people, fine wine is defined by price. For others, it’s about a wine’s rarity or reputation. You can read our take in our article on What is fine wine?
Ultimately it comes down to taste. A fine wine should have balance (where the acidity, tannin, sweetness, body and alcohol are all in harmony), complexity (the wine reveals many different layers of aromas and flavours), length (the flavours should last in the mouth) and elegance. It should reflect the unique terroir in which it was grown. And above all, a fine white wine should be a pleasure to drink!
Traditionally, the best fine white wines came from Europe, especially the classic French regions, and Germany, which was renowned for its fine Rieslings. But these days, fine white wines can come from any wine region in the world, from the Mosel to Margaret River.
That’s not to say that provenance doesn’t matter. Only the best vineyard sites can produce truly ‘fine wine’ and it’s important that fine wines have a clear sense of place. For example, thanks to the region’s cool climate and Kimmeridgian soils, Chablis has a purity and mineral quality that makes it distinctly different to Chardonnay grown anywhere else in the world.
Not always. There are certainly many fine white wines which have excellent potential for ageing. In particular, the fine whites of Burgundy and fine German Riesling can evolve beautifully for decades. But there are many factors that affect age-worthiness … grape variety, how the wine has been made, and where it’s from.
The easiest way to tell whether the wine you choose ages well is to look at the ‘Drink by’ dates on our website. It’s not the same as an expiry date but rather when we think the wines will be drinking at their best.
To maximise the longevity and maintain the quality of your wines as they age, you need to store them in ideal conditions. Wines should be aged horizontally, out of direct sunlight and with a constant cool temperature. 10-13 degrees is considered the optimum temperature for white wines.
Of course, a cellar is perfect but not everyone has one! Other options include a temperature-controlled ‘wine fridge’, an outbuilding or garage, or in a storage cabinet kept in a cool place.
Take a look at our 5 tips and tricks for storing wine at home to find out more.
And if you’re looking for long-term storage of fine wine, we recommend you take advantage of our customer storage facility in Gloucester.
Storage is available for any wine you buy from us in our state-of-the-art warehouse. Temperature and humidity are not only monitored in various parts of the warehouse, they’re also actively controlled. Visit our fine wine hub to find out more or call our fine wine team on 03330 148 202.
It depends on your personal taste! In terms of what are the most expensive fine white wines, Grand Cru white Burgundy still top the list. Many of the famous Bordeaux châteaux make fine white wines, not just red. And Sauternes in Bordeaux is home to the most expensive sweet white wines, notably Château Yquem.
One of the best ways to buy fine white Bordeaux and Burgundy is En Primeur. It’s essentially a way of buying wines before they’ve been bottled. To find out more, have a look at our fine wine hub or get in touch with our fine wine team at finewine@laithwaiteswine.com or call 03330 148 202.