1st July 2021 | Cork Talk | 7 minute read
A world-renowned wine region famous for producing some of the highest quality vino you can get your hands on. We are here to dive deep into this stunning area of south-west France and uncover some of the true unsung heroes of the wine world – the delicious dry whites and refreshing rosés of Bordeaux.
The prestigious Bordeaux wine region has heaps of scenic beauty, from the Gothic monuments of its Saint-Émilion World Heritage Site to the golden sands of the Atlantic coast beaches. The diverse landscape of this enchanting area is not only alluring for tourists, but also for winemakers as its diversity means a variety of wine styles can be produced here, capable of pleasing any palate.
The area is naturally segmented by the Gironde Estuary, where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet. The west side of the river (commonly referred to as the ‘Left Bank’) is home is esteemed winemaking districts such as Médoc and Graves, while on the east of the river (on the ‘Right Bank’) you have big names like Libournais. Both banks are famous for producing quite different wines, however all just as exceptional as each other.
When this region comes to mind, the chances are you think of rich, powerful reds. This is no surprise considering a staggering 90% of all wine produced here is Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, or commonly a blend of the pair. However, there is so much more to Bordeaux than just reds – in fact despite only 10% of the wines produced here being white, the quality of these certainly makes up for the lack of quantity.
Bordeaux really has some hidden gems when it comes to white wines, capable of challenging any of the best dry whites from the likes of Burgundy. But what is the secret behind this corner of France? Well, the terroir is crucial to the success of any wine and Bordeaux has a great mix of climate and soil types.
With the proximity of Bordeaux to the Atlantic, the region has a balance of warm days with cooler nights from the ocean breeze, creating the perfect maritime climate. In summer, temperatures can soar whilst the nights remain relatively cool. Rainfall here also helps the vines thrive with the breeze helping to bring in a scattering of rain from the Atlantic Ocean.
The most widely grown white grape in Bordeaux is Sauvignon Blanc. The gravel soils of the Left Bank mean it’s most commonly found in this side of the region where the roots are forced to bury deep to find moisture below the gravel beds, helping the vine to mature and produce smaller concentrated fruits. The result is a light, dry Savvy B bursting with fruity aromas and flavours of lemon and peach. Perfect with lighter, summery dishes such as salmon or fresh green salads with feta.
Sémillon is also grown here to produce semi-sweet and sweet white wines. A much richer and creamier texture, with a slight oily feeling in the mouth, a Bordeaux Sémillon expresses flavours of baked apples and pears, with zesty, fragrant undertones of orange peel and ginger. Loved for its fuller body, it’s the main grape variety used in the region’s famously luscious dessert wine, Sauternes, and commonly blended with Sauvignon Blanc to add body and depth of flavour.
Next up for Bordeaux whites, we have Muscadelle. Now only grown in very small quantities across the region, it’s an exceptionally sweet grape variety that’s commonly blended with Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc in the production of Sauternes to add rich, floral overtones. Often only added in small amounts of around 10%, it can be quite intense in flavour, and only a touch is needed to add complexity to a wine blend.
And let’s not forget sparkling white wines. Crémant de Bordeaux is the name given to all sparkling wines in the region, produced using certain traditional methods of winemaking. When it comes to Crémant de Bordeaux, we can expect to find all the same grape varieties used to produce the classic still wines from this region – but grapes must be hand picked, and the wine aged for at least 12 months, to qualify as Crémant.
When indulging in a bottle of this fine fizz, you can expect complex nutty notes with a touch of honey, and that trademark crisp acidity that comes with French sparkling wine. With those created using Sémillon, expect slightly more floral notes on the nose.
Bordeaux rosé is a real secret of the wine world. Accounting for only around 7% of the wine that comes from Bordeaux each year, rosé from this area is well under the radar – meaning these delicious and wonderfully refreshing blush wines are very affordable too.
Bordeaux rosés are produced from a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (no surprises there) and Cabernet Franc. Different blends are created to produce some real show-stopping vino that’s perfect for summer sipping. You can expect intense fresh and fruity aromas of strawberry and summer fruits, with these flavours being carried through to the palate with redcurrant, combined with reasonable acidity that leaves you feeling refreshed. Ideal for serving alongside tapas or grilled chicken skewers at your next barbecue.
If you’re now craving a taste of Bordeaux this summer, we’ve got an extensive range of stunning whites, rosés and sparkling wines from this region.
If the still whites take your fancy, then L’Emigre Blanc 2020 is a must try. Developed with our friends over at Château du Seuil in Graves, this Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon blend encompasses all the great aspects of Bordeaux still whites into one exceptional, crisp and elegant vino.
Another great Bordeaux blend to try, also from this winemaker, is the Château du Seuil Bordeaux Rosé Magnum 2019. Ultra-fruity and exceptionally refreshing, this blush blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is reasonably dry and crisp, yet packed with strawberry and raspberry flavours. Absolutely fantastic on those warm summer days.
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