This is Planet Bordeaux: DA,
Enough of the Duran Duran flashback, let’s talk about wine. When I received the invitation from Michael Wangbickler to participate in #planetbordeaux Twitter Taste Live event, I eagerly accepted. I knew that I’d have the chance to expose a group of people to the white wines of Bordeaux and the wines would be selected with care.
I secured the cheeses and various appetizery things and set up the glasses. Our first wine was a Dourthe Grand Cuvee Sauvignon Blanc 2010. Dourthe, a Bordeaux negociant, also owns several other interesting properties including Haut-Medoc’s fifth growth estate, Belgrave, and the St Estephe cru bourgeois property St Estephe cru bourgeois. This wine was full of lemon and grapefruit and lots of fruitiness. It was fresh, crisp and a great summer wine for $12.
Our next wine was the 2010 Chateau La Freynelle Blanc. This vineyard was established in 1789 and has been passed through seven generations. In 1992, Veronique Barthe, the first daughter in the family since the revolution, inherited the family estate. She uses a sustainable vineyard management program. This was also a crowd pleaser and was comprised of a classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and a hint of Muscadelle. The wine had lots of citrus and minerality, but an almost creaminess that made it linger on your palate. The bargain of the year at $13.
We also tried two roses and I must disclose that unless it is a sparkling rose, I personally struggle with most roses. Our first was the Chateau Ballanhttp Larquette Rose 2009 at $16. Chateau Ballan Larquette has been making wines for generations by the Viognobles. One member of our group described the wine as tasting like “dusty strawberries,” but another friend claimed this one immediately to take home.
Planet Bordeaux
The second rose was the Chateau Fontenille 2010 ($14), a Bordeaux claret. Chateau de Fontenille has been making wines since the Middle Ages and has a long list of accolades. We tasted more raspberry than strawberry on this one and there was an almost spiceness to it. Of the two roses, this was my favorite and one that the group preferred.
For a little French sophistication, a change of pace from the norm and for a different spin on your summer wines, I recommend giving these a try. A future column will be the red wines of Bordeaux and I suspect I’ll have a new stable of well priced, well balanced wines to share.
