Malcolm Jolley finds an exceptional bargain at the LCBO.

The holiday season may be over, but the hospitality season isn’t at my house. This week we’ve entertained both family and friends and are enjoying some merriment in early 2017. One way I have been entertaining myself, has been to pour my guests a glass of the 2015 Gérald Talmard Macon-Uchizy before dinner. First I ask them what they think of the wine. My family and friends are a sophisticated bunch, so most will guess Burgundy (not least from looking at the label), or at least an un-oaked Chardonnay. Then, I tell them that it cost $15.95 and they become very interested in the wine, indeed.

The Talmard Macon-Uchizy is an exceptionally well made wine for big production Burgundy. It’s just really well balanced, and big on lemony fruit. Interestingly, it has a fair amount of residual sugar: seven grams per litre. But it has enough acid that it shows dry. I picked it up at my LCBO with some skepticism: under $20 Burgundy’s can disappoint, although the quality does seem to be continually improving in wines made from less glamorous AOC’s. I was very pleasantly surprised, as my family and friends have been, at how well rounded and tasty the wine turned out to be.

At $16 it’s worth trying, and trying out on your friends. Click here for the link to the LCBO website to find a bottle near you.