If you’re a fan of sauvignon blanc but find the popular New Zealand style of these whites are too intense and overpowering for your palate, consider a dry Bordeaux Blanc. Most white Bordeaux wines are made of sauvignon blanc and sémillion and may also include other grapes including muscadelle, colombard and ugni blanc. While there are certainly pricey Bordeaux whites to be had—including the famous sweet Sauternes—there are plenty of good quality, dry wines that are inexpensive and widely available. While these wines are usually zesty, citrusy and herbaceous, they tend to be tamer than the concentrated, high-acid sauvignon blancs from New Zealand. The following are two examples:
Château Haut-Rian 2021, Bordeaux Blanc, FranceBought • Friar Tuck Beverage, 9053 Watson Road in February for $12.99
Description • Grapes for this high-scoring wine were grown in Entre-Deux-Mers, a white-wine-only appellation in Bordeaux. Although this aromatic wine is a blend of 60% sémillon and 40% sauvignon blanc, the distinctive sauvignon blanc characteristics are quite assertive. It’s crisp, citrusy and herbaceous and the sémillon adds some delightful richness to the wine. This is a flavorful white that would go well with white meats and seafood.
People are also reading…
Chateau Buisson-Redon 2021, Bordeaux Blanc, FranceBought • Friar Tuck Beverage, 9053 Watson Road in February for $11.99
Description • This delicious white comes from the Seze family, known for its Château Mayne-Vieil in Fronsac, a Bordeaux red wine appellation that’s just west of Saint-Émilion. Although this wine is 100% sauvignon blanc, it’s a bit milder and a tad lighter than the Château Haut-Rian. Elegant and well-balanced, it’s an easy-to-drink wine that tastes of lemons and grapefruit along with some tropical fruit flavors. It makes for a refreshing aperitif and would pair well with shellfish and green vegetables.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch lists the best-reviewed wines of 2022. The list has been divided into sparkling, white and red wines.
