Self Isolation : Day # 16

2018 Château La Verrière Bordeaux Blanc

Bordeaux. Population 260,000. Nestled along the banks of the Garonne River, just upstream of its confluence with the Dordogne River, it could be considered the wine capital of France. Its eponymous wine region is one of the world’s most well-known, famed equally for the longevity and complexity of its red blends as it is for the high prices demanded by the top bottlings. Based on five ‘noble’ varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec - the red blends from the villages along the Gironde estuary are classically tantalizing and hold a special place in most wine lovers’ hearts. However $500+ bottles of red are just the tip of the iceberg and don’t really convey the whole story of this very large region.

Spanning two rivers, an estuary, and just miles from the Atlantic Ocean, there is a lot of seafood to be consumed here. One doesn’t typically think of seafood and full-bodied, tannic red wines as a good match for delicate fruits du mer. Thankfully Bordeaux pumps out some delicious white wines based on Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Traditionally bottled as a 70/30 blend (SB/SM) and barrel fermented, it is one of my favorite styles of Sauvignon Blanc - more round, savory, and textural than a Sancerre and waaaaaaaaaay less grapefruit-y and loud than Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

This 2018 blanc from Ch. La Verrière is a more modern interpretation, attempting to capitalize on the popularity of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. 100% Sauvignon Blanc that does not see oak, this is bright, fresh, and appetizing. Notes of Key lime and grapefruit with subtle minerality and bright, mouthwatering acidity, it is a great example of why you don’t have to spend more than $20 to get a well-made, honest, delicious bottle of wine. (It was also a great base for the risotto on Day 15!)