For the Future - White Wines

As will be deduced from the recommendations of wines to lay down for differing lengths of time the choices are varied and broad (particularly when it comes to red wines or port) depending upon the length of cellaring required. However the choice of white wines suitable for laying down has less scope so care needs to be taken to ensure they are not kept so long that they go past their best and start to oxidise.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

Château de Malle, 2001 - 2eme Cru Classé Sauternes - £37.55 per bottle

This 2001 has to be ranked as one of the best ever to come out of the estate. 2001 was a great year and de Malle has produced a deliciously complex wine with elements of honey, papaya, mango, peach and creme caramel. Moderately sweet at this youthful stage but there is good acidity and depth which herald a finely tuned wine when it reaches maturity between 2007 and 2020. This wonderful estate was at one time owned by the Lur Saluces family of d'Yquem fame but in 1785 it was purchased by the Bournazel family who have owned it ever since. The château is classified as a historical monument. It is a superb residence surounnded by its beautiful Italian gardens. It was built by Jacques de Malle in the 1700s. The estate is now owned by the Comtesse de Bournazel following the death of her husband Pierre in 1985. de Malle produces three wines: the 2eme Cru Classé Sauternes of Château de Malle itself, a red Graves named Château de Cardaillan and a dry white Graves called M de Malle. 70% Semillon, 27% Sauvignon and 3% Muscadelle BLUE CHEESE/FOIE GRAS/PATE/DESSERT

Yattarna, 2002 - Penfold's Wines, Nurioopta, South Australia - £40.86 per bottle

Aromas of grapefruit, white stone fruits and ripe apple are complimented by subtle spice and nut characters derived from oak maturation. The subtle oak is seamlessly integrated offering a powerfully complex wine. The depth of fruit on the palate offers pear and lemon fruit, balanced with a complex spicy cashew nuttiness. The creaminess of the mid palate is balanced with a cleansing natural acidity. A powerfully complex wine showing all the hallmarks of a world-class chardonnay. A long Indian Summer relieved cool Spring and Summer weather conditions. The warm Autumn weather benefited white varieties developing depth of flavour, mineral complexity and great length. There is no doubt that 2002 was one of the best vintages seen for many decades. In the long-established Penfolds tradition of striving for excellence in all its endeavours, chief winemaker John Duval in the 1990's tasked his winery team with exploring the possibilities of creating a white wine that would one day rival the standards that Penfolds Grange sets for our reds. Yattarna reflects Penfolds' patience and continued commitment to this goal, its very name being drawn from the Aboriginal meaning "little by little, gradually" and each vintage providing the opportunity to further raise the quality horizon. Penfolds has been producing remarkable wines for almost 150 years and indisputably lead the development of Australian fine wine in the modern era. The introduction of Penfolds Grange Hermitage in 1951 forever changed the landscape of Australian fine wine, since then a series of standout wines - both red and white - have been released under the Penfolds masthead. FISH/SHELLFISH/CHICKEN/PORK