Master of Wine Discusses BORDEAUX BLANC
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- čas přidán 4. 05. 2024
- In today’s video, Bob Paulinski, Master of Wine will discuss the dry white wines of Bordeaux. The videi will cover the various quality levels, the importance of vintage, the grape varieties and what to expect in your wine glass. A tasting of four wines will be included.
This video was created at my home away from home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is an excellent French wine market, particularly for Bordeaux. In many cases, over half of the wine offered in shops will are from Bordeaux. It’s a region with thousands of wine producers, making over 600M bottles per wine. While red wine plays a lead focus, about 60M bottles of dry white are produced each year. While you may not find the exact wines featured in this video, it’ll provide guidance of what to expect with the various styles while you’re shopping for wine.
A bit about the region, it’s a vast expanse of vineyards, the second largest in France, located around the city of Bordeaux in the western part of the country, near the Atlantic Ocean. About 85% of the region is dedicated to red wine. About 10% is dry white wine, the small remaining percentage being sweet wines, rose’ and sparkling. Prior to the devastating frost of 1956 the region was heavily influenced by white wine, mostly sweeter styles, along with some fruit dedicated to distilled spirits.
In terms of making sense of the labels, generally speaking, the more specific the place of origin, the better chance of coming across something truly special. At a base level, Bordeaux AOC or Entre deux Mers which are very common examples often solid, decent wines coming from a very broad place of origin, moving up Graves, provides a more specific origin and with a better sense of place, then transitioning to Pessac Leognan, is a more defined place of origin with a long-established presence for dry white wine, (established in 1987). Now comes a twist, throughout the region, many prominent red producers will make small amounts of dry whites, sometimes restricted in terms of a place of origin designation on the label.
Vintage is a critical consideration with a maritime region like Bordeaux, it’ll directly impact the quality and styles of the wines. At the time this video was being made, the early word on the 2023’s is very good, a bit less so with the 2022’s. I’m a fan of the 2021’s, it was much better for the whites versus the red of Bordeaux. Increasingly, elevated alcohol levels can be a factor, especially with increasingly warm vintages.
Grape varieties, SB and Semillon are the two primary grape varieties. Muscadelle is sometimes used to a small percentage to heighten the aroma. Also, look for Sauvignon Gris is become a more prominent variety in the coming years. Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Merlot Blanc in tiny amounts. This pic shows SB near harvest time. The seeds are not quite brown, one indicator of ripeness.
First up is the 2021 Chateau de Beauregard Ducourt, an Entre deux Mers from a vast vineyard area, SE of the city of Bordeaux. The wine sells for about $15. This is no frills winemaking, machine harvested fruit. Most Entre deux Mers is made in SS or concrete vats, its all about the primary fruit character, direct, simple style made for within about five years of the vintage. SB is typically the primary grape variety used, with some Semillon, occasionally a bit of Muscadelle. In Malayasia and many other countries, a duty paid stamp will be noted on the bottle.
The 2020 Ch Le Bonnat from Graves, it sells for about $20. The Graves AOC gets its name from the gravel-based soils that are commonly found within the region.
2017 Chateau Baret Pessac Leognan, an appellation that came into existence in 1980s. Think of it as the prime cut region from within Graves. Some wines are more Sauvignon Blanc based, others more Semillon. This one is 90% SB, 10% Semillon. Oak aged, some new oak, with lees stirring.
2020 Ch Fourcas Dupre Blanc, it sells for about $30. This estate has a long history of great value Red Bordeaux. White wine makes up a small portion of the total wine production.
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Way to break down white Bordeaux Bob! These are some of my favorite wines and definitely worth searching out. Often great values and your descriptions are straightforward, always hitting the highlights in a clear and informative style. Thanks!
Thank you Laura! Cheers!
White Bordeaux flies completely under the radar for me personally. Thanks for pointing me to them!
Thank you for commenting. Plenty of good options to search out.
Professor Bob, thank you for another interesting, informative video. I learn so much from you as a Master of Wine. For me, it's a hobby, and I appreciate you sharing your vast knowledge with us. You have the best wine channel on YT. In general, do you think white wines have much shorter shelf lives than reds? I had a 2018 Kistler Chardonnay recently and it was well past its prime. It was oxidized and I was very disappointed. Congrats on breaking 10k subscribers! You deserve it!
Hi Rob, I appreciate the good word, it’s much appreciated. In general, reds have longer aging potential, but there are many exceptions. As for ‘18 Kistler Chardonnay, it should be drinking well. Maybe it was stored poorly. 10k feels good, I’ve gone from one to two grains of sand on the beach! 😂 Cheers!
Another great video, please keep them coming. These wines sound perfect for the upcoming warmer weather. I'm definitely going to search them out.
Thank you James, much more to come. If you have questions on the wines, please let me know.
I do remember the afternoon storms of Malaysia, but that was in October. The good thing though is that the rain was warm 😍
Thanks for this lovely video! I had a lovely Graves on Monday ❤❤
You’re right, it’s a warm rain. Thanks for the kind words.
Now you’re talking one of my favorite whites! I’ve multiple producers in the cellar, including some first growth chateau’s styles. Left, between two seas and right bank whites. Very food friendly and good solo drinkers too. Thank you.
Hi Carl, plenty to like with Bordeaux Blanc! Cheers!
I know I'm usually fanboy-ing about this, but man, it's amazing to hear knowledge on so many various details of the region discussed casually, like it's nothing to know all that. That's the place I want to get to in the world of wine, to feel confident to go over the details of things, not like a student, but like someone who's had the time to really chew it down til it becomes natural.
My first experience with Bordeaux blanc was too oaky and smoky; I didn't understand the wine at all. I do think it counts as a classic, as you always say, so I'll give all styles a proper chance when I can.
In other words, I’m an old man! 😂 I appreciate the comment and your support. You’re in a good path in the wine world. If I can help you along, even in the slightest manner, I’m happy to do it. It’s good you’re giving Bordeaux Blanc another chance.
@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine7234 Thanks a million for the encouragement, Bob, that’s already a big help. At the moment I’m arranging to carry on with my wine studies, which is time- and money- challenging. I think what I should do is take the big leap and go pro once and for all, and that’s where I’m a bit hesitant. As soon as I figure out if I’m offered a place for Diploma and work out a financing schedule that I can manage, I may reach out for some ideas on how to step into the professional scene. Again thank you a lot for the support!🍷
@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine7234 I think for some reason my reply here didn't get posted! I mentioned that right now I'm doing my very best to get admitted into WSET Diploma, which is being offered by The Wine Studio in Madrid for the first time this year. I'm gathering every penny to be able to enroll, not all hope is lost -I hope. I've also just had the candidate interview, and I hope it's gone well. What I'd certainly need some help with is how to take the frightening step of going into the sector professionally. I've got an approximate idea about what I'd like to do, but I may contact you for some advice on how to get in and progress once inside. From a consumer perspective, the professional wine scene looks quite opaque and exclusive beyond the winemaker sector.
Thanks for this. So many CZcams videos are made about red Bordeaux and unfortunately, so few about whites. More on white Bordeaux please 🙏🏻. Also, can I ask, as a KL resident myself, where you bought these wines? Tong Woh?
I’m a Tong Woh fan, but not for this video. Fourcas Dupre was purchased from Lavowine. The rest are from AsiaEuro.
thanks
AI gets worse all the time. I had to use CC to watch and was treated to “saon Blanc” every time Bob said Sauvignon Blanc. Also, “shat to Bard to p” for the first E-d-M. Nothing you have control over, Bob. Excellent recap of some of the loveliest and best value whites in the world.
Andrew, thank you for commenting. Bordeaux blanc, plenty to explore. The CC can be frustrating. As for the Entre- deux-Mers, oh no! 😂
To be honest, white Bordeaux is a wine I don't drink very frequently. I am more of a red wine fan, but I do like a white wine and again. For some reason, white Bordeaux rarely hits my radar when I want a white. However, I have in the past enjoyed good wines from Clos Floridene and Chateau Guiraud. My wife and I are off to Bordeaux for a city break in a couple of months and will be enjoying white, red & sweet Bordeaux.
On a side note, I have had the red Chateau le Bonnat several times and found it to be a more than acceptable wine.
It’s been much the same for me. I’ve recently come back to Bordeaux Blanc. I’ve not tried the le Bonnat red. Cheers.
white bourdeaUX SO UNDERRATED! i drinke nice one tastes expensive and lime and mango, wasent very expensive either!
Definitely overshadowed, many very good options to choose from.
Thanks for the information on the white Bordeaux wines!
And thank you for take time to comment.
Unfortunately white Bordeaux wines are so hard to find. Some of the finest wines I have tasted
Sole markets are better than others. Where do you live?
Just came back from a holiday in Bordeaux/St-Émilion and had a good surprise with the white from Chateau de Côme in Saint-Estephe. On a blind tasting I would probably go for a NZ SB although it had a bit more elegance than NZ. Also had a dangerously easy drinking white at Chateau Le Chaletet (St Emilion!) and good value dry and semi-dry bottles Chateau Gravas in Barsac. I didn't visit any big winery as I prefer smaller producers and my conclusion is that there are a whole lot of better and cheaper wines than those that make it to Britain and most of the 7 producers I visited blamed Brexit for it.
I agree, a bevy of good values. It just takes a bit of effort to spot them. Dangerously easy drinking, I like it. Can I use it in a future video? 😂
@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine7234 please use it 😅 I normally say that about Tuscan wine but this was a good exception 😀
@@AShiga Good deal! 👍
Good day Sir, would it be possible for you to visit a few cooperages and talk about oak terroir. I don't see many footage of a cooperage called VG-Degor in Serbia and I quess there are many other Slavonian Oak that is not talked about.
It’s an interesting topic. I’ll look to visit a cooperage house. Thank you.
Excellent video as always. As a fan of acidic whites (German Riesling, Albariño, Grüner Veltliner etc.) it sounds like the last one would be right up my alley. In general, what should I be looking for? I assume Sauvignon Blanc dominated wines, colder vintages (e.g. 2021), anything else? Certain appellations/producers?
I'm drinking two wines tonight: Lackner-Tinnacher Ried Eckberg Morillon 2021 (an excellent wine, extremely focused and bright) and a budget Burgundy: Domaine Maurice Charleux & Fils Maranges 1er Cru "Le Clos des Rois" 2019. The Burg is a bit too sweet and too "purple" for my taste. But still enough Burgundy character to be worth the 20€ I paid for it.
I’m glad you liked the video. As for what to look for, you’re spot on. With Pessac Léognan, you’re in good company. The ‘21 Pape Clement and Dom de Chevalier were excellent. You’re drinking well again. Good for you! 🍷
It’s good stuff alright, bit pricy but no doubt on excellent wine. Going out in a few weeks time so I’ll be trying a few. I prefer the Bordeaux sav blanc style to NZ which is a bit ott at times. If you can afford the pessac leognans go for it. Lots of elegance.
We’re aligned with Bordeaux Blanc. I drink NZ SB from time to time, opting for the smaller producers, much more interesting than the broad market commercial wines.
Excited to see this one!
I hope it lives up to the expectations!
Thanks, Bob. I have only just rediscovered dry white Bordeaux, after many years. I bought half a case of 2020 Graves blanc last year. I opened one a few months ago - delicious - and will probably drink one per year from now on. I also bought half a case of 2022 en primeur, which I will take delivery of in a couple of years.
Incidentally, No Sediment has done a video on the same topic. Does this sort of thing happen often?
Like you, I enjoy buying multiples to drink over a number of years. I suppose it’s inevitable that video topics will overlap from time to time.
🙂
😊
Could have done a collaboration with @nosediment who dropped the same topic today.
Crazy coincidence! 😂
So much good white, and so much bad from Bordeaux..
And the really good stuff is darn expencive.
But worth it on that special night.
The quality range is broad, but well worth the effort to sort through it.
Generally speaking, is there a price point for white BDX where you wouldn’t venture over?
With a few exceptions, excellent bottles can be had for under $50.