A Chef, a Winemaker and a Bottle of Marsanne

The dynamic duo of Rhône winemaking star Michel Chapoutier and three-star Michelin chef Yannick Alléno.

When a world-famous chef and one of the Rhône Valley’s most respected winemakers decide to team up, you know something interesting is going to land in your glass. It all started when Yannick Alléno (a Michelin-star magnet) and Michel Chapoutier (practically Rhône royalty) partnered up 15 years ago. Their latest offspring at the LCBO is the Alléno & Chapoutier Croix de Chabot Saint-Joseph Blanc 2023—a name that’s a mouthful, but so is the wine…in a really good way.

THE PARTNERSHIP

This collaboration was spawned by a shared obsession: letting terroir shine in its purest form. Chapoutier has spent decades championing biodynamic farming and Rhône’s expressive granite soils, while Alléno treats ingredients in the kitchen with the same reverence. So, naturally, they chose Saint-Joseph, an appellation with about 1,000 years of winemaking history, as the playground for their first joint venture.

Their grape of choice? Marsanne. It’s not the flashiest grape, but when handled with care, it produces whites with richness, florals and minerality that make Chardonnay lovers go: “Wait, what’s this?”

WHAT IT TASTES LIKE

Here’s where it gets fun. In the glass, the 2023 Croix de Chabot Blanc shows off a pretty pale yellow colour with bright highlights. Stick your nose in and you’re greeted with a bouquet of honeysuckle, white peach, faint white flowers, honey and just a whisper of smoke. The oak aging peeks through, adding a rounded note of toast and spice, but it’s never overwhelming.

On the palate, this wine is fleshy and textured but as balanced as yin and yang. You get stone fruit, acacia, sweet honey, a touch of oak and a smoky minerality that keeps it lively. There’s good acidity running through it and a sturdy mineral frame that keeps it refreshing without ever feeling heavy. The finish is long, smooth, and laced with subtle floral and mineral flavours—a sign of both careful winemaking and the quality of that granite-soil vineyard site.

WHO WILL LOVE THIS WINE?

If you’re not already familiar with Marsanne, consider this an upscale detour for Chardonnay lovers—particularly those who embrace oaked, food-friendly whites with some texture.

Food pairing? Take your pick. Roast chicken, buttery lobster, a creamy pasta or even a carefully selected cheese plate will all find a good companion here.

Is it worth the splurge? At $39.95, it’s sitting in that “weekend treat” price point for most. But when you compare it with similarly priced Burgundies, you’re getting excellent value. This admittedly isn’t a mass-market bottle—it’s a carefully crafted wine with personality, food-friendliness and even some aging potential. Tuck one away for five years and it’ll likely take on more honeyed, nutty complexity.

Final Verdict: 92

The Lush Life

A Chef, a Winemaker and a Bottle of Marsanne

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A Chef, a Winemaker and a Bottle of Marsanne

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