The single GREATEST dry White wine made...

WINE TALK
1

…give it to me?!

2

for me, it’s Ramonet Montrachet from a great year such as 1986 . . .
alan

3

Wow, that’s a relatively large category. Do you mean by reputation, a single bottle (as opposed to, say, DRC Montrachet as a bottling but not every vintage would necessarily meet that standard), a particular varietal (doesn’t seem what you are asking for) or just people’s general opinions on any single great white wine they have had. I think the latter is what you are going to get but just because it’s someones favorite white wine they have ever had doesn’t make it one of the great white wines ever made. I think you would need 3 things:

  1. Legendary reputation (producer, vintage, vineyard/bottling)
  2. Withstood the test of time (it would be hard for me to imagine that the single greatest white wine ever made is only 5 years old for instance)
  3. People have tasted it that can comment on it and affirm its awesomeness

3 years ago I had the 1947 Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu and for me it would fit the first 2 most important criteria. Certainly a legendary producer, vintage and bottling. Wine was 50 years old when I tasted it. Single greatest white (although it was far from white at this point, it was like cognac that had turmeric steeping in it) wine I have ever encountered. Hope that’s what you were looking for.

4

I’ve had some outrageously good bottles of Trimbach’s Clos Ste. Hune, although I can recall a Leroy Montrachet that also blew me away.

5

I’m with Bob…CSH.

6

Of what I’ve had…
Leflaive Batard from 96. In pristine shape.

1973 Clos St Hune from Trimbach was stunning.

a 1983 Haut Brion Blanc was amazingly good - I’d love to try a well stored bottle from a top flight vintage.

Sweets… 75 Yquem is the only dessert wine I’ve tasted at what might be considered its peak.

7

Is this a late April Fools??? Le Montrachet, of course.

Reasonable minds can disagree on producer or vintage, one supposed. But little else.

8

My shortlist would include;

1993 Domaine Leflaive Montrachet
1983 Ramonet Montrachet
1992 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne
1992 Raveneau Chablis ‘Clos’
Various vintages of Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet
Various vintages of Roulot Meursault ‘Perrieres’

9

Would also put Clos Ste Hune up there. Needs age however. Hirtzberger’s Singerreidel can sometimes match it. Don’t have enough experience with old Montrachet, something I need to remedy. Some Champagnes with a lot of age can lose some of their bubbles and be fantastic as well; they’ll drink like a still wine.

10

Current release wines, hard to go past '07 Leflaive Chevalier and '07 DRC Montrachet…

11

82 Ramonet Montrachet
90 CSH

Just depends on your mood.

12

I think you have to look at the Chapoutier blancs (L’oree and ermite are my two favorites). For me it is a toss up between those and Batards

13

I’m with Alan: Ramonet Montrachet. Not only the greatest dry white for me, but maybe the greatest wine period. Although Clos Ste. Hune would be my non-Burg pick for dry white.

14

Various xxx-montrachets are the best dry whites Ive had. But they arent the best white wines Ive had. I can’t remember having a (non-hyphenated) Montrachet.

15

Specifically, a 1971 Haut Brion Blanc consumed in 1996 was the best dry white I’ve had. Various Coche Corton and M-P, along with Leflaive Grand Crus and Ramonet Montrachet make up positions 2 thru 50.

16

I have had more great Ramonet Montrachets than any other dry white wine. While these were mostly from the 70s and 80s, I have high hopes for the 96. I have also been very impressed by d’Auvenay’s Chevalier especially the 96 and 2000. While tough to find (and afford) I’ve yet to have one that has been less than brilliant.

17

I’ve had one epiphany 96, one premoxed and one “ehh.” I think I may have one more b of the 96 Ramonet kicking around somewhere but I’m not sure. Hope your results are better.
alan

18

I can’t recall having a better wine than 92 Coche CC - breathtaking, complete wine.

19

In addition to various MONTRACHETs (remember I once made a comprehensive M-tasting)
I may add:

Haut-Brion blanc 1985 & 1989
Corton-Charlemagne 1992 Coche-Dury
Riesling “Unendlich” und “Kellerberg” 1998 F.X.Pichler (Wachau/Austria)
G-Max 2006 (Keller/Germany)

20

I’ve had 3 from a 12 bottle case. All perfect but brutally young. The others “look” OK but i’ll be checking in again this summer where I’ll taste the 95 and 97 as well.