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Bordeaux Blanc - 1/11/2018 4:26:50 PM   
Smaragd

 

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Joined: 2/3/2017
From: New York City
Status: offline 		Ok, what is it about this wine that makes it so distinctive and recognizable? A note, a character, I dunno... I can identify this flavor profile a mile away but i don't have a "note" to call it.
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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/11/2018 4:28:27 PM   
Smaragd

 

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Joined: 2/3/2017
From: New York City
Status: offline 		PS if you have a good Bordeaux Blanc suggestion, I"m all ears.

PPS I must create a thread about wines that we first tasted in our "youth" -- and still have nostalgic power.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/11/2018 4:33:45 PM   
khmark7

 

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Status: offline 		Enjoy Bordeaux blanc in it's youth, but they can age. For me it's the waxy lemon curd Semillon character that i enjoy with a touch of oak.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/11/2018 4:51:28 PM   
Smaragd

 

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Status: offline 		I think you are on to something.. the note I"m recognizing might be simply the character of Semillon or Sauvignon unoaked

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/11/2018 8:49:48 PM   
CranBurgundy

 

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Status: offline 		The waxy lemon / grapefruit citrus flavors are what stick out to me. We don't drink it much, but sometimes you just need a glass or two. Luckily, there's a few good inexpensive brands. Our latest fancy is courtesy of Robert on WB: Chateau Graville-Lacoste Blanc. I challenge you to find a better value!

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/11/2018 10:41:08 PM   
jmcmchi

 

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Status: offline 		Big issue is to avoid overload of oak

Most frequent characteristics for me are citrus (mainly lime end), mineral (flint) and verbena depending on source. I also get seashells or salt

Frankly, some of the big names so overdo the oak that it is difficult to taste anything else. Entre deux mers labels are generally better value than Graves/Pessac Leognan.

An alternative, depending on price, is the SSB or SBS blends from Margaret River

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/12/2018 3:47:30 AM   
racerchris

 

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Joined: 6/22/2015
From: Bolton, CT
Status: offline 		My current go-to is Ch. Cote Montpezat Cuvee Compostelle Blanc.
The best I've had was a bottle of 2014 Ch Carbonnieux, (Pessac-Leognan)
Other white Bordeaux I've enjoyed include Ch. de Chantegrive, Ch. Ducasse and Ch. Villa Bel-Air (Graves)
I have a couple bottles of de Chantegrive Cuvee Caroline in line for next white wine to open.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/12/2018 12:16:11 PM   
mclancy10006

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Smaragd

I think you are on to something.. the note I"m recognizing might be simply the character of Semillon or Sauvignon unoaked

For me it is the Semillon that stands out not the unoaked SB. You can find the later in many places like say Sancerre.

-Mark

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/12/2018 3:46:12 PM   
Robert Pavlovich

 

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Status: offline 		Yes to that Semillon fattening things up a hair, and changing the fruit profile. These wines can be surprisingly ageable, I should really dabble more in this space. Good question and post!

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/12/2018 5:21:21 PM   
Smaragd

 

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From: New York City
Status: offline 		I think you both are right... it's perhaps Semillon which is so distinctive in white bordeaux. I don't drink Semillon ever except in Sauternes, which is a totally different expression. The taste is dry but fruity, but I suppose waxy, woody, and resinous too.

My experiences of Sauvignon Blanc tend toward cat pee, ammonia, and vinegar, so I should not have confused them.

BTW I was recently drinking 2015 Chateau Tour du Fossat.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/12/2018 5:59:53 PM   
khmark7

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: CranBurgundy

The waxy lemon / grapefruit citrus flavors are what stick out to me. We don't drink it much, but sometimes you just need a glass or two. Luckily, there's a few good inexpensive brands. Our latest fancy is courtesy of Robert on WB: Chateau Graville-Lacoste Blanc. I challenge you to find a better value!


Completely agree on the Graville-Lacoste Blanc. Superb stuff.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/13/2018 4:17:28 AM   
hamishwm

 

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From: Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne.
Status: offline 		I also adore white Bordeaux.
For me the best example is Haut Brion Blanc (if someone else is paying) or Domaine de Chevalier (if I am paying).
The Haut Brion Blanc is a very small production wine (normally +-500 cases). It has an incredible pure saline, lime, zesty, fresh element that is beguiling. It is not big or loud, it is charming.
Domaine de Chevalier is slightly waxy and citrus to start, but I find this wine one of the weirdest wines to age. It seems to get a funky almost oxidative style (like stewed apples), but retains its acidity well.

Although white Bordeaux used to be more than 50% of Bordeaux production (before 1956) it is now down to single digit volume.
The terroir of Pessac Leognan has that mineral fine element that does not push fully blown Sauv Blanc.

Also Chateau Bouscaut is 'under the radar' for quality and still good value.

In the Entre Deux Mers you still have to kiss a few frogs before you find the Prince. Marjosse (Pierre Lurton's private Chateau) is good quality/value.

And a white Bordeaux definitely to look out for is Clos des Lunes. These wines are actually made at a winery very close to Yquem in Sauternes, but they are dry Bordeaux wines. The estate is owned by the Bernard family (who own Domaine de Chevalier) and is run by Hugo Bernard. They have some of their own vines, but they also source fruit from quite a few other growers for their brand. There are a few different Bronze, Silver and Gold wines in the range. Definitely worth exploring.


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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/13/2018 4:19:48 AM   
hamishwm

 

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From: Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne.
Status: offline 		And to answer Smaragd's original question, the French would say that the uniqueness comes from the terroir rather than the grape variety.
Many Bordeaux whites are blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon and increasingly Sauvignon Gris, but they can be tricky to pick in a blind tasting.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/13/2018 4:28:04 AM   
hamishwm

 

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From: Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne.
Status: offline 		Some interesting (if slightly dated figures from 10 years ago):

White Grape Plantings:

54% Semillon

36% Sauvignon

7% Muscadelle

3% Other whites (other allowable whites are ugni blanc, colombard and folle blanche)

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/17/2018 11:02:19 PM   
ob2s

 

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Status: offline 		I had my first 'high end' Bdx Blanc, 2010 Domaine de Chevalier. More than I spend on almost any other bottle, since the lads on their trip with Hamish loved it so much. Opened for Christmas with high expectation, but was corked. The vendor 'Grand Vin Wine Merchants' in Olympia, WA told me to get f*cked. I have one more, but unless it is the business, it will be my last, save for the under $20 bottles.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 2:39:15 AM   
Ricardo

 

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From: Ascot, UK
Status: offline 		I love these when they are on song, some are capable of very long ageing; stand-outs from my consumption list:

Carbonnieux (1978, drank like it was 20 years younger, super..), I've had quite a few of these from various vintages (one was corked)
Laville-Haut-Brion - not sure if this has the same name now..
"G" de Guiraud (so-so)
Smith Haut Lafitte - very good usually

Also Blanc de Lynch Bages - can be excellent but is a bit hit and miss IMO and hard to find, it's not cheap either..

Plenty of cheaper stuff available, some good, some execrable..

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 3:06:05 AM   
oskiwawa

 

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Status: offline 		I have had one Blanc de Lynch Bages ( 1995 ) which was consumed in 2015. I got lucky and it was on the hit side of your experience. Even at 20 years it was closed upon opening and took an hour decant to beging singing. Really great wine Looking at others notes on this it looks like many of these are over the hill at this point. Certainly was not the case in the one we had.
quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

I love these when they are on song, some are capable of very long ageing; stand-outs from my consumption list:

Carbonnieux (1978, drank like it was 20 years younger, super..), I've had quite a few of these from various vintages (one was corked)
Laville-Haut-Brion - not sure if this has the same name now..
"G" de Guiraud (so-so)
Smith Haut Lafitte - very good usually

Also Blanc de Lynch Bages - can be excellent but is a bit hit and miss IMO and hard to find, it's not cheap either..

Plenty of cheaper stuff available, some good, some execrable..




< Message edited by oskiwawa -- 1/18/2018 3:08:48 AM >

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 3:20:13 AM   
Claude Bizon

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ob2s


quote:

I had my first 'high end' Bdx Blanc, 2010 Domaine de Chevalier. More than I spend on almost any other bottle, since the lads on their trip with Hamish loved it so much. Opened for Christmas with high expectation, but was corked. The vendor 'Grand Vin Wine Merchants' in Olympia, WA told me to get f*cked. I have one more, but unless it is the business, it will be my last, save for the under $20 bottles


There is a multitude of excellent and cheap dry Bordeaux wines, apart from the classified wines. Formerly, I had bought 12 bottles of Château Carbonnieux 1975 but I was disappointed, it was a discreet wine, flat, without large size, on the other hand if you find them, here are good addresses: Château Thieuley, vintage Francis Courselle (excellent), about $ 10, Chateau Civrac-Lagrange (Graves less than $ 10) excellent guard, château Suau oak barrel in Capian (Gironde) (about $ 8), Entre Deux Mers "vintage Hortense" about $ 6 . We do not ruin and we are greatly pleased!
Otherwise, take a tour of Montravel and Bergerac. Many dry white wines are worth great dry white Bordeaux!

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 5:04:08 AM   
Eddie

 

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From: central Kentucky
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ob2s

I had my first 'high end' Bdx Blanc, 2010 Domaine de Chevalier. More than I spend on almost any other bottle, since the lads on their trip with Hamish loved it so much. Opened for Christmas with high expectation, but was corked. The vendor 'Grand Vin Wine Merchants' in Olympia, WA told me to get f*cked. I have one more, but unless it is the business, it will be my last, save for the under $20 bottles.


Fingers brought a bottle of this to the Golden Truffle when we were out there visiting, and it was outstanding--one of the best white wines I've ever tasted. I didn't know that Bordeaux Blanc could be so good. Don't give up on it yet.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 5:45:54 AM   
racerchris

 

Posts: 1622
Joined: 6/22/2015
From: Bolton, CT
Status: offline 		Last night we finished a bottle of 2014 Chateau de Chantegrive Cuvee Caroline. (50% Sauv Blanc, 50% Semillon)
Its a very nice food wine but I didn't enjoy it as much on its own.
A bit more on the mineral side, and very dry.
I opened another Bordeaux blanc to have a glass on the heels of the Chantegrive - 2016 Ch. Cote Montpezat Cuvee Compostelle Blanc.
It didn't have the same intensity as the Chantegrive but was almost as enjoyable as an accompaniment to mushroom ravioli in Alfredo sauce.



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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 6:46:03 AM   
KPB

 

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From: Ithaca, New York
Status: offline 		In fact it is the minerality that draws me to these wines. I don’t cellar them so I perhave missed the aging opportunities people are describing, and don’t order them often. But I’ve enjoyed them, especially with shellfish, because of that crisp mineral dimension

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 6:47:42 AM   
KPB

 

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From: Ithaca, New York
Status: offline 		PS: Y d’Yquem and Haut Brion blanc were my two favorites. But they used to be pretty cheap. Not the case these days...

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 10:24:55 AM   
skifree

 

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From: SE King County, Washington
Status: offline 		I'll also plug Domaine de Chevalier as a go-to white Bordeaux. I bought some Malartic-Lagraviere from 2010 that was excellent for under $40, though have not tried other years.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 11:16:03 AM   
ROEL

 

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From: Linsmeau, Belgium
Status: offline 		Caillou Blanc de Chateau Talbot was an eye-opener for Bordeaux blanc for me, many years ago. Even though prices have gone up considerably since then, I think it is still a good choice.

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 5:41:40 PM   
Scott W

 

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From: Sherman Oaks Ca
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quote:

ORIGINAL: CranBurgundy

The waxy lemon / grapefruit citrus flavors are what stick out to me. We don't drink it much, but sometimes you just need a glass or two. Luckily, there's a few good inexpensive brands. Our latest fancy is courtesy of Robert on WB: Chateau Graville-Lacoste Blanc. I challenge you to find a better value!

This big time...imho

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/18/2018 5:52:21 PM   
Smaragd

 

Posts: 717
Joined: 2/3/2017
From: New York City
Status: offline 		Well, in response to my original question, yes it's def. the semillon :)

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RE: Bordeaux Blanc - 1/19/2018 6:38:40 AM   
jeff leve

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Smaragd

Ok, what is it about this wine that makes it so distinctive and recognizable? A note, a character, I dunno... I can identify this flavor profile a mile away but i don't have a "note" to call it.



I like White Bordeaux. They can be quite, fresh, vibrant, refreshing wines with great minerality and lots of ripe, juicy, yellow citrus fruits. Most are quite inexpensive. But the best can be pricey, as not much is produced.

This page should give you a better idea on most of what you need to know about Bordeaux Blanc - https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-topics/guide-white-bordeaux-wine-chateaux-taste-character-grapes/

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