Chardonnay

Burgundy's famous white variety planted all over the world. It produces arguably the world's greatest white wines - rich, full-bodied and capable of ageing at the top end, but dull, flabby and over-oaked at the bottom. Flavours of tropical fruit (pineapples and melons), smoke, spice, caramel, marzipan and butterscotch are apparent in the best examples, whereas many low quality Chardonnays are shrouded in oak to disguise the lack of character. Also used in Champagne.