When I have to cook with white wine, I go with Bouchard's Macon. Full of flavor, bright fruit, crispness, this lemony vicks coughdrop in liquid form proudly lacks any elegance, sophistication or balance. I call it my Macon-Lugnuts. I think it should be $10 and not $15, but maybe that's cuz I'm cheap.

And when I have friends over that don't get much into Burgundy, I will serve this after they've opened their flabby Italian pino grigio and then I whisper, "now do you get what I mean about white wines needing acidity?" Then I remind them today's lesson is NOT about balance.

This is a seriously tasty bottle of wine for the money. Straw colour in the glass with a nose dominated by green apple, stone fruit, citrus, and minerality. Medium bodied and creamy in the mouth, the citrus and minerality come through on the finish. While this isn't a mindblower, this is a good bottle of wine for a warm summer evening with a fish course. Tasted April 2012.

Medium bodied chardonnay. Apple, pear, citrus notes, cinnamon and hint of chalk on an otherwise clean, smooth finish.

Tasted April, 2012.