Louis Latour Ardèche Chardonnay 2023. Pale straw bottle, unoaked French white wine. Available at The Wine Box Kenya, Nairobi.

Louis Latour Ardeche Chardonnay 2023

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KShs3,190 incl. of VAT

Order before 9PM for same day delivery within Nairobi. Next day delivery for orders outside Nairobi

The Louis Latour Ardèche is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. The limestone soils of the Ardèche give a mineral backbone that warmer, flatter sites cannot replicate. As a result, the wine achieves a level of transparency and site expression that mass market alternatives lack. For those comparing unoaked white options in Nairobi, this offers genuine Burgundian négociant pedigree and limestone minerality at a price point that undercuts comparable Chablis or Mâconnais bottles.

Tasting Notes

Pale straw with green highlights. The nose is immediate and precise. Initially, white peach, green apple and struck flint dominate. The limestone signature is unmistakable. However, with a few minutes in the glass, lemon zest, white flowers and a faint wet stone note emerge. Furthermore, a trace of dried herbs and chalk dust develop over time. On the palate, the wine is medium in weight. The entry is crisp and mouth watering. Bright acidity carries flavours of ripe pear, quince and a hint of grapefruit through the mid palate. The absence of oak leaves the fruit transparent and pure. The finish is clean and mineral. Crushed shell, lemon peel and a faint saline trace that persists for 20 seconds. This wine is built for immediacy. Serve well chilled and drink within 12 months of release.

Food Pairing

At 12.5% ABV and with high acidity, this unoaked Chardonnay pairs with light, fresh dishes. Grilled sea bass with lemon and herb butter and oysters on the half shell are therefore the strongest matches. The wine’s mineral finish and citrus character complement seafood without overpowering it. Additionally, goat cheese salad, steamed mussels and linguine alle vongole work well at the table. The acidity cuts through richness cleanly. For a Nairobi afternoon where the occasion calls for something precise and refreshing, this is the bottle that delivers. A seafood lunch, a light starter course, or a midweek dinner where the goal is simply to have something crisp and mineral in the glass. Serve at 8 to 10°C. No decanting required.

What You Need to Know:

How does this taste next to a Burgundy Chardonnay?
The Ardèche is warmer than Burgundy, giving riper peach and less austerity. The limestone soils provide a similar mineral thread, but the wine is more immediate, more generous. It is consequently more approachable in youth and significantly less expensive. Think of it as Burgundy’s younger sibling with a southern accent.
Will this feel too lean for someone used to oaked Chardonnay?
If your reference is full-bodied, creamy Chardonnay, this will feel crisp and transparent. There is no oak, no malolactic weight, no vanilla. It is consequently a different style entirely. Pour it for someone who finds oaked Chardonnay heavy or wants a wine that refreshes rather than fills.
Should I keep this or drink it now?
Drink it now. The primary fruit and mineral edge are at their best in the first 12 months. The screwcap preserves freshness but the wine is not built for development. This is a wine for the table, not the cellar.
What should I cook with this?
Grilled sea bass with lemon, oysters, goat cheese salad, steamed mussels. The acidity and mineral character suit seafood, fresh cheese and light pasta. Linguine alle vongole is a classic match.
Ardèche versus Chablis?
Both are unoaked, mineral-driven Chardonnays. Chablis is leaner, more austere, more chalky. The Ardèche is warmer, giving more peach and a softer entry. Chablis demands patience. The Ardèche offers immediate pleasure. Choose based on the occasion and the budget.
What if this is out of stock?
Our customer service team can help you find a suitable alternative or source the product where possible.
How fast can I get this delivered in Nairobi?
Nairobi orders placed before 9 PM qualify for same-day delivery, typically completed within a 1-hour window. Free delivery applies to orders above KES 3,000 within Nairobi. Orders outside Nairobi are delivered nationwide across Kenya within 24 to 48 hours.
Vintage: Varieties:

Description

A Chardonnay from the limestone hills of southern France, now available in Nairobi, Kenya. The 2023 vintage carries white peach, struck flint and a quiet mineral thread through fruit grown north of the Rhône valley.

PRODUCT FACTS

Vintage: 2023
Producer: Louis Latour (Maison Latour)
Country: France
Region: Ardèche
Vineyard: Hillside vineyards in the Ardèche, limestone and clay soils
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Style: Medium bodied, mineral driven, unoaked
ABV: 12.5%
Production Method: Hand harvested. Whole bunch pressed. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. No oak contact
Closure: Cork
Serving Temperature: 8 to 10°C. No decanting required

About The Winery

Maison Louis Latour was founded in 1797 in Aloxe-Corton, Burgundy. The house remains family owned and operates as both grower and négociant, controlling vineyards from Chablis to Beaujolais. Their role in Burgundy is unique. They own Grand Cru parcels in Corton and Corton-Charlemagne while simultaneously sourcing fruit from across the region with the same rigour applied to their estate wines.
The Ardèche relationship dates back decades. Louis Latour was among the first major Burgundy houses to recognise the quality potential of the limestone hills west of the Rhône. For buyers in Kenya, Louis Latour represents one of the most historically rooted and vertically integrated producers in France.
Free Delivery

We provide FREE DELIVERY for orders above Kshs. 3,000 within Nairobi. Orders outside of Nairobi will attract delivery charges, which will be calculated based on the cart size and your location. Orders outside of Nairobi are delivered through a logistics partner Fargo Courier.

Delivery Countrywide

We deliver anywhere* in Kenya and Orders outside of Nairobi will attract delivery charges, which will be calculated based on the cart size and your location. Orders outside of Nairobi are delivered through a logistics partner Fargo Courier.

*Please note that conditions apply to deliveries to Lamu and some coastal regions.

Free Click & Collect

We offer FREE Click & Collect services where you can choose to place your order on our website and collect it from our Warehouse in Karen. We're located at 76/77 Dagoretti Road, Karen (Opposite The Hub Karen) and your order will be ready within 60 minutes of ordering on the site. This is also a great opportunity to get to meet us in person (we'd love to meet you!).

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