Picture yourself in Italy drinking French wines. That is, in this case some of the best Bordeaux white wines. YES, White Wines from Bordeaux! And, YES, Bordeaux is best known for its red wines. Attending Discovery Sessions at the Wine Media Conference (#WMC22) at Lake Garda meant that we had the opportunity to taste wines from other European countries, in this case France.
Discovering new wines is nirvana for #winelovers. I was among the attendees, in this case who got to taste, analyze, and write about the wines. Attending a Discovery Session is one of the highlights that I look forward to each year. Imagine if you combined discovering more about Bordeaux wines, by tasting its lesser known wines; that is, what made the White Wines of Bordeaux Discovery Session, So much fun, right?
White Wines of Bordeaux
White Wines of Bordeaux: Taking a Closer Look
Let us take a closer look at some of the wines featured during the White Wines of Bordeaux Discovery Session with Emma Baudry. When you think of Bordeaux you are most likely to think of Bordeaux's spectacular red wines, or maybe some of its awesome white wines. A tiny part of Bordeaux’s wine production is dedicated to white wines. Like the reds, white Bordeaux wines are usually blends, most commonly made with Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and the rare Muscadelle. Other permitted grape varieties include Sauvignon gris, Ugni blanc, Colombard, Merlot blanc, Ondenc and Mauzac. Recently permitted by Bordeaux wineries, are three new white grapes. These grapes are Alvarinho, Petit Manseng, and Liliorila. There are other less-known varieties used, such as Colombard and Ugni Blanc (the grape used in Cognac) however, most White Bordeaux wines are made of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc originated in Bordeaux; and it is very old, older than Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tasting White Bordeaux Wines
The session introduced the following wines:
1. Château de Jayle, Bordeaux Blanc Moelleux 2019
2. Chateau Fayau, Sweet, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux 2020
3. Chateuax Garbes Cabanieu, Cadillac 2016
4. Chateau du Loupiac 2017
Chateau du Cros, AOC Loupiac 2016 © Spaswinefood
This wine is produced from 90% Semillon, with 5% Sauvignon Gris and % Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Deep gold in color, this full-bodied sweet Bordeaux on the nose has intense aromas of apricot, pineapple, orange marmalade, mango, apple, with hints of lychee and white peach. On the palate these flavors are complex with a long finish. Available at around $22 this winehas the richness of Sauternes but it costs a fraction of the price.
5. Chateau des Arroucats, Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont 2018
Chateau des Arroucats, Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont 2017
Description: Chateau des Arroucats, Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont © Spaswinefood
Produced from 92% Semillion, and 8% Sauvignon grapes this wine is medium gold in color. It is aromatic with tropical-fruit flavors of mango, pineapple, with hits of apple, pear, marmalade, and blossom. This medium-bodied Bordeaux has a medium to long finish, and has been described as having a creamy texture. It paired well with the blue cheese and dried apricots. Selling around $15 a bottle this another a fabulous Price Quality Ratio (PQR).
Available in the US at: Vintage Wine Marketing
6. Chateau Majoureau, Cotes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire 2020
Chateau Majoureau, Cotes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire 2020 © Spaswinefood
Description: Chateau Marjoureau, Cotes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire © Spaswinefood
I found this #WMC22 Discovery Session to be very informative. Bordeaux white wines are so much fun to discover. It is so easy to fall in love with Bordeaux White Wines. Besides it's famous reds for sure Bordeaux whites deserve attention. Fortunately, my first introduction to these wines was at the Wine Media Conference #WMC21's Discovery Session on the Sweet Wines of Bordeaux. One of the best sources on Bordeaux White Wines is this article. I invite you to join me in our wine travels at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.
Overview of Bordeaux Wines
Bordeaux Red Wines
Left Bank Bordeaux Blend by law includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmémere (rarely).
Right Bank Bordeaux Blend includes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Bordeaux White Wines
A tiny part of Bordeaux’s wine production is dedicated to white wines. These wines are made with Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and the rare Muscadelle.
Sauternes & Bordeaux Sweet Wines
Sauternes, the best-known French sweet wine, is from the Sauternais region of Graves in Bordeaux. Sauternes is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc, and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot. The grapes become partially raisined, resulting in concentrated and distinctively flavored wines. Due to its climate, Sauternes is one of the few wine regions where infection with noble rot is a frequent occurrence. Even so, production can be a hit-or-miss proposition, resulting in varying harvests from vintage to vintage. Wines from Sauternes, especially the Premier Cru Supérieur estate Château d'Yquem, can be very expensive, largely due to the very high cost of production. Barsac lies within Sauternes and is entitled to use either name. Similar, but less expensive and typically less-distinguished sweet wines, are produced in the neighboring regions of Monbazillac, Cérons, Loupiac and Cadillac. In the United States a semi-generic label for sweet white dessert wines is known as sauterne without the "s" at the end and uncapitalized.
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