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Top French Whites of 2025

by Annandale Cellars

French Whites

The Wines that Excited us in 2025

Welcome to 2026! We are kickstarting this year with some highlights from 2025 that are worth trying if you haven't already and worth buying again if you already have! This week we are selecting some French white wines that excited us in 2025 - stay tuned for more categories throughout January!

Domaine du Closel La Jalousie Savennieres Blanc 2020

Savennières is a sub-region of the Loire Valley with viticultural history dating back to the late 15th century. This renowned appellation is marked by its schist plateau, where steep slopes known as coteaux descend dramatically toward the Loire River. The surface is layered with fine aeolian sands, while deep-cut valleys or Coulées, carve through the landscape, creating microclimates that enhance the region’s viticultural diversity. Domaine du Closel have been certified biodynamic since 2015 whereby they are able to honour and highlight the terroir to create compelling expressions of Chenin Blanc

Really nice Chenin that speaks to its origins - notes of ripe apple, lemon, quince, beeswax and chamomile on the nose with nice texture and acidity on the palate. Refreshing and interesting. - Aaron C.

Domaine Vigneau Chevreau Sparkling Vouvray NV

Domaine Vigneau-Chevreau are another family estate, certified biodynamic since 1999 from another sub-region of the Loire Valley known as Vouvray, also specialising in Chenin Blanc. They create a suite of Chenin from sparkling, sec, demi-sec and moulleux. The earlier-picked grapes will go into this sparkling wine to produce a sleek and silky sparkling wine that stands apart from most others you'll find at this price range.

Inspired by the chalky soils of the Loire Valley and crafted from Chenin Blanc, Domaine Vigneau Chevreau Sparkling Vouvray NV showcases a lively and refined profile. The nose is greeted with aromas of crisp apple, quince, and honeysuckle, accented by a touch of fresh herbs and wet stone. On the palate, flavours of juicy pear, citrus, and a hint of honey are carried by a fine mousse and a vibrant acidity. The finish is bright and refreshing, leaving soft traces of minerality and a whisper of floral sweetness. - Peter L

Gautheron d'Anost Bourgogne Dijon Blanc 2023

Gautheron d'Anost is a rising star in Burgundy that really impressed me at a masterclass last year. Bastien Gautheron started studying oenology at just 15 years old and has worked for the great Olivier Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet. Bastien is part of the newer generation of vignerons seeking to nurture their terroir and express it with as little intervention as possible using 350L barrels for his whites to reduce oak influence. This Bourgogne is a great introduction to his wines and he is definitely one to keep an eye on!

Soft spices, ripe apples, citrus and peach all perfectly balanced on the nose with a slight salty touch. Nice weight to the wine on the palate with more saltiness coming through. This is a fantastic Bourgogne Blanc. - Aaron C.

Domaine de la Chapelle Pouilly-Fuisse Les Grands Climats Blanc 2023

Domaine de la Chapelle sits at the base of the Rock of Solutre which is a famous landmark in the region, next to the historic chapel that was built in the 12th century. All the vineyards are farmed organically and the average age of the vines is about 60; planted in a mix of clay, limestone and marl. More and more people are exploring this region as an alternative to the skyrocketing prices of the Cote d'Or and it's easy to see why - this is a great Chardy that won't break the bank like many others of the same calibre.

A very good example of Pouilly-Fuisse from a producer that none of us had heard of and had low hopes for given the pricing but we were very wrong. This is a real head turner with layers of white flowers, harder orchard fruits with power and depth. It's a blend of several sites across Pouilly-Fuisse so you basically get the best bits blended together to create a very strong example of what this producer and region offers. - Pete L

Christian Venier Les Carteries Blanc 2020

ChristianVenieris based on the tiny village of Cheverny, Touraine within the Loire Valley. Here, Christian learned the art of thoughtful farming and minimal-intervention winemaking from Thierry and Jean-Marie Puzelat of Clos du Tue Boeuf. He produced his first vintage in the 90s and enrolled in the Viticultural School of Amboise when he quickly discovered that they were rather ignorant of organic practices and continued to trust his guns, bucking the post-war trend towards mechanisation. His winemaking practices involve fermentations with natural yeasts, a wide variety of ageing vessels to experiment with and no additions or subtractions to the wine. The resulting wines are distinctive and interesting expressions of local varieties grown that speak to their place of origin.

Les Carteries is a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Gris coming from mineral rich soils in Cheverny in the Loire Valley. It's aromatic, rich and fleshy with zesty citrus, white florals, ripe apples and hints of honey. It's all aged in stainless steel which keeps the wine fresh and tames and the riper fruit characters. - Pete L

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