Drink of the Week: Domaine Faiveley Ladoix Les Marnes Blanches 2022

Proof that you don’t need to choose between a month’s rent and a great bottle of Burgundy, this white wine only tastes like a million bucks. From Domaine Faiveley, the 2022 Ladoix Les Marnes Blanches is a knockout at any price. 

It’s classified as a Villages wine. That means, in the Burgundian hierarchy, it falls below the top-ranked Grands and Premiers Crus and above entry-level Régionales. An array of factors influence how wines are priced. But, in this current era of worldwide Burgundy obsession, Villages wines generally offer good value for money. 

The 2022 Ladoix Les Marnes Blanches is no exception. It has bright citrus and elegant minerally notes plus an irresistible, slow-build tension. Wine professionals tend to use “oyster shell” as a tasting note for this style of Chardonnay from this corner of France. While I’ve personally never eaten one, it’s an oddly apt descriptor. There’s a graceful salinity to this wine that gives it beautifully nuanced flavors and does feel reminiscent of the ocean.

The Chardonnay grapes come from the chalky limestone soils of Ladoix, an appellation in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune region where people have made wine since the 13th century. The winemaker, Domaine Faiveley, is similarly established. A seventh-generation estate, it has vineyards with various classifications throughout the region. How lucky for me—someone whose enthusiasm for fine wine outpaces her budget de temps en temps—that this is one of them. shop.klwines.com, $59.99