Chardonnay, Languedoc, France

Easy-peasy and genuinely lemon squeezy, this mellow mostly chardonnay (with a 5% kiss of perfumed rousanne) from the hot & sweaty South of France is like a sectional couch to call one’s own. This is proud lounging wine. In 1995, Bernard and Béatrice Nivollet left their white-collar jobs – and presumably the cigarettes, croissants and baby doll dresses of the arrondissements – behind in Paris. At 45-years-old, they squished their four kids into their small euro car, headed due south, and found the perfect, rocky, oh-so-Mediterranean plot enshrouded by wild thyme, fennel, and rosemary. They dubbed it Château Haut Blanville and waited two years for their first harvest. Daughters Charlotte and Margaux now bring a younger vibe to the estate’s traditionally classique style with fresher wines, a recent organic certification and biodiverse practices. The chardonnay grapes were aged in stainless steel, giving it a fresh edge, but the teeny dose of rousanne aged in oak brings a welcome whiff of vanilla custard to the party. Think spring flowers, flaky salt on the dessert, pottery wheel smell, apples with cheddar! Pair with sweatpants and notifications silenced and that Samin Nosrat buttermilk-brined chicken with a crispy rice and oyster mushroom salad when you’re wondering, how can anyone please everyone?