Chermette’s 2009 Beaujolais Blanc smells of fresh apple and honeydew melon mingled with toasted hickory; caresses the palate with generously juicy but soft fruit; and finishes without mineral dimension but with bitter counterpoint from apple pip and toasted nut. Drink this appealing, vintage-typical Chardonnay over the next 6-9 months. Pierre Chermette – for more about whom, consult my report in issue 184 – picked his crus from September 7-15 and his vines in the South of Beaujolais the week following, managing to keep alcohols below 13.5%.Importer: Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800