Bordeaux Blanc
Château Suduiraut Vielles Vignes Grand Vin Blanc Sec 94–95 Pale colour. Fresh lemon curd, grapefruit, marzipan aromas. Generously concentrated and supple with lemon curd, marzipan, grapefruit, hint crème brûlée flavours, fine supple textures and integrated fresh acidity. Classically proportioned and beautifully balanced with mid-palate richness and mineral length. 58% semillon, 42% sauvignon blanc. 10% new oak, 90% in 1-year-old oak. 14% alc Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 94–95 Pale colour. Classic lemon curd, grapefruit aromas and flavours, fine chalky textures and long minerally acidity. Very textural wine which will build up waxy richness with time. 70% sauvignon, 30% semillon. 18 months in roughly 35% new French oak. 13.5% alc La Clarté de Haut-Brion Blanc (de Château Haut-Brion) 94–95 Pale colour. Classic grapefruit, lemon curd, tonic water aromas with biscuity notes. Sweet fruited wine with plentiful grapefruit tonic water flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures, and fresh mineral acidity. Finishes minerally and long. 55% semillon, 45% sauvignon blanc. 44% new oak. 13.5% alc Château La Louviere Blanc 93–94 Pale colour. Fragrant white flower/ camomile lemon, tonic water, herb aromas and flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures, some mid-palate viscosity, yeasty complexity and attractive linear fresh acidity. Very good. 100% sauvignon blanc. 10 months in around 30% new French oak. 13.5% alc Château Malartic Lagravière Blanc 93–94 Pale colour. Very impressive lemon curd, ginger, camomile, white peach aromas and flavours with toasty oak complexity and fine chalky al dente textures. Very good mid-palate density and fresh linear acidity. 89% sauvignon, 11% semillon. Usually around 10–12 months in roughly 40% new oak. 13.4% alc Clos Cantenac L’Exubérance Blanc 93–94 Pale colour. Lovely lemon curd, grapefruit, hint tropical fruit/ pineapple, honey aromas. Richly flavoured lemon curd, grapefruit honey, tonic water flavours, fine chalky textures and fresh mineral acidity. Some saline notes. Very attractive. 100% semillon. 60% stainless steel, 25% new oak. 13.5% alc Château Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc 92–93 Pale colour. Grapefruit lemon curd, herb aromas. Well concentrated lemon glacé, grapefruit flavours and fine slinky textures. Finishes chalky firm and fresh with very good mineral length. 78% sauvignon blanc, 22% semillon. 10 months in roughly 50% new French oak. 13.3% alc
Château Haut-Brion Blanc 95–96 Pale colour. Intense grapefruit, baked lemon, lemon curd, hint pear/ verbena aromas with toasty notes. Generous sweet grapefruit, tonic water, lemon curd fruits, fresh sweet-fruit notes, some toasty oak elements, attractive mid-palate volume and fine persistent electric/ searing acidity. Finishes crisp and tight with pure lemon fruits. Bloody good but never great value! 55% semillon, 45% sauvignon blanc. 45% new oak. 13.5% alc Château Suduiraut Vielles Vignes Grand Vin Blanc Sec Pur Sémillon 95–96 Pale medium colour. Intense marzipan, honey, tropical fruit. toasty vanilla aromas. Richy concentrated palate with complex lemon curd, tropical fruit, marzipan, honey flavours, lovely mid-palate density/ viscosity, underlying chalky textures and linear fresh acidity. Very good. 61-year-old vines. 100% semillon. 9 months maturation in 30% new and 70% 1-year-old oak. 13% alc Aile d’Argent Blanc (de Château Mouton Rothschild) 94–95 Pale colour. Fragrant lemon curd, grapefruit and hint spearmint aromas. Sweet fruited wine with abundant grapefruit, lemon glacé, tonic water flavours, attractive mid-palate buoyancy, fine lacy textures and underlying savoury/ biscuity notes. Finish chalky with plentiful ripe fruits. Refined and modern. 64% sauvignon blanc, 36% semillon. Château Cos d’Estournel Blanc 94–95 Pale colour. Verbena, lemon glacé, tonic water aromas. Generous flavours of grapefruit, lemon curd, pear skin, fine chalky loose-knit textures, lovely mid-palate volume and vibrant long acidity. Very fresh and linear with chalky bitter notes at the finish. 71% sauvignon blanc, 29% semillon. 8% new French oak. 12.3% alc Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc 94–95 Pale colour. Bitter lemon, grapefruit aromas with verbena toasty notes. Sweet fruited wine with ample grapefruit, tonic water, leesy flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures, some mid-palate viscosity and fresh linear acidity. Oak dominates the back palate but should settle. Attractive minerally wine with fresh chewing tobacco notes. Very tactile. 55% semillon, 45% sauvignon blanc. 55% new oak. 14% alc
54
The Vintage Journal – International Series
Bordeaux 2022
55
Powered by FlippingBook