Attributes:

Barton & Guestier

Bordeaux, France

Sauvignon Blanc

750 ML

1988: WineSpectator Rating: 78

straightforward

Food Matches:

A region in western France that grows famous red wines from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes and white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. Situated on the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux has a maritime climate with warm summers and fairly mild winters as well as an abundance of rain during harvest time. When young, the finest red Bordeaux wines have a deep cranberry hue and aromas of blackcurrants, plums, spice, cedar, and cassis. For the first ten years or so these wines can be very dry, with tannin masking the fruity flavors. Eventually the wines turn garnet, and develops an extraordinarily complex bouquet and flavor as well as softer tannins. The finest red Bordeaux wines still take 20 years or so before reaching their maturity. Two distinct red wine production zones exist within the Bordeaux region; the Left Bank and the Right Bank. The Left Bank vineyards are located west of the Garonne River and the Gironde Estuary, into which the Garonne empties. The Right Bank vineyards are east and north of the Dordogne River and east of the Grionde Estuary. Of the various wine districts on the Left and Right Banks, four are the most important for red wines: Haut-Médoc; Pessac-Leognan, St-Emilion, and Pomerol. For white wines, the most important are Graves and Pessac-Leognan.

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.

Attributes:

Les Tuileries

Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux - White

750 ML

Food Matches:

A region in western France that grows famous red wines from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes and white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. Situated on the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux has a maritime climate with warm summers and fairly mild winters as well as an abundance of rain during harvest time. When young, the finest red Bordeaux wines have a deep cranberry hue and aromas of blackcurrants, plums, spice, cedar, and cassis. For the first ten years or so these wines can be very dry, with tannin masking the fruity flavors. Eventually the wines turn garnet, and develops an extraordinarily complex bouquet and flavor as well as softer tannins. The finest red Bordeaux wines still take 20 years or so before reaching their maturity. Two distinct red wine production zones exist within the Bordeaux region; the Left Bank and the Right Bank. The Left Bank vineyards are located west of the Garonne River and the Gironde Estuary, into which the Garonne empties. The Right Bank vineyards are east and north of the Dordogne River and east of the Grionde Estuary. Of the various wine districts on the Left and Right Banks, four are the most important for red wines: Haut-Médoc; Pessac-Leognan, St-Emilion, and Pomerol. For white wines, the most important are Graves and Pessac-Leognan.

Attributes:

Domaine de Chevalier

Pessac-Leognan, France

Sauvignon Blanc

750 ML

2005: Tanzer Rating: 92-93

floral, lanolin

rich

powerful

2004: Tanzer Rating: 92-94

bright, lively

densely packed, supple

2003: Tanzer Rating: 90-91

bright, fresh

powerful

flowers, grapefruit, mango, mint, pineapple, spices

2002: Tanzer Rating: 90-92

fresh

grapefruit, orange, peach

juicy, ripe

2002: Tanzer Rating: 90-92

tightly wound

grapefruit, honeysuckle, lime, minerals, oak, peach

juicy

2001: Tanzer Rating: 91-92

rich

racy

honeydew, honeysuckle, lime, limey, pineapple

concentrated, ripe

2001: Tanzer Rating: 91-92

fat, soft

lanolin

supple

honey, peach, pineapple, stone, vanilla

dense, strong

2000: Tanzer Rating: 90-92

deep, rich

hazelnut, honey, honeysuckle, lime, mint, oak, spicy, vanilla

Food Matches:

One of the youngest appellations in France, this region just outside the modern city of Bordeaux (and once part of the appellation Graves) boasts vineyards that have won prestige for the entire Bordeaux region. Its hilly, well-drained soil suits the Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes used to make their dry whites and the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot used in their supple, earthy reds.

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.