Bordeaux is a name synonymous with some of the world&#39;s most prestigious red wines, but its white wines, particularly Bordeaux Blanc, often fly under the radar. While the reds of this region have garnered international fame, Bordeaux Blanc wines, crafted primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, S&eacute;millon, and Muscadelle grapes, are some of the wine world&#39;s best-kept secrets. These wines offer an elegant balance of freshness, complexity, and aging potential that can rival the finest whites from anywhere in the world.

Why Bordeaux Blanc Often Stays Under the Radar

Several factors contribute to Bordeaux Blanc&rsquo;s relatively low profile:

1. Focus on Red Wines: Bordeaux&rsquo;s reputation has been built on its red wines. The dominance of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the region overshadows the white varieties.

2. Limited Production: Compared to red Bordeaux, the production of Bordeaux Blanc is much smaller, with only a fraction of the vineyards dedicated to white varieties.

3. Consumer Awareness: Many wine consumers are less familiar with Bordeaux Blanc, often gravitating towards better-known white wine regions like Burgundy, Loire, or even New Zealand for Sauvignon Blanc.

4. Market Positioning: Bordeaux Blancs are often positioned as less prestigious or desirable compared to their red counterparts, making them less sought after in international markets.

Despite these factors, Bordeaux Blanc wines are adored by those in the know for their quality and aging potential, offering remarkable value for those willing to explore beyond the more famous Bordeaux reds.

Several ch&acirc;teaux in Bordeaux have built a reputation for producing outstanding white wines. Here are some of the top producers:

1. Ch&acirc;teau Haut-Brion Blanc: One of the most prestigious and rare Bordeaux Blancs, Haut-Brion Blanc, is a highly sought-after wine known for its complexity and ability to age for decades.

2. Ch&acirc;teau La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc: Another top-tier producer, known for its rich, full-bodied whites that balance power with finesse.

3. Ch&acirc;teau Smith Haut Lafitte: This estate is renowned for producing vibrant, well-structured whites that showcase the purity of the fruit and the terroir.

4. Ch&acirc;teau Pape Cl&eacute;ment Blanc: Known for its opulent and aromatic style, Pape Cl&eacute;ment Blanc is a wine that offers immediate pleasure but can also reward aging.

5. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Chateau-Carbonnieux-Pessac-Leognan-Blanc-2022-w2815766ib">Ch&acirc;teau Carbonnieux Blanc:</a> A historical estate that produces one of the most reliable and accessible Bordeaux Blancs, offering exceptional value and consistent quality.

Let&rsquo;s deep dive into Ch&acirc;teau Carbonnieux Blanc:

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Chateau-Carbonnieux-Pessac-Leognan-Blanc-2022-w2815766ib">Ch&acirc;teau Carbonnieux</a>, located in the Pessac-L&eacute;ognan appellation, is one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux, with a history dating back to the 13th century. The estate has been under the ownership of the Perrin family since 1956, who have been instrumental in modernizing the vineyard and winery while preserving its rich heritage.

Eric Perrin, a member of the Perrin family, is the current steward of <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Chateau-Carbonnieux-Pessac-Leognan-Blanc-2022-w2815766ib">Ch&acirc;teau Carbonnieux</a>. His winemaking philosophy is rooted in respect for the terroir, with a focus on producing wines that are both expressive of their origin and capable of aging gracefully. The estate employs sustainable viticulture practices, and the winemaking process is a careful balance of tradition and innovation.

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Chateau-Carbonnieux-Pessac-Leognan-Blanc-2022-w2815766ib">Ch&acirc;teau Carbonnieux Blanc</a> is a blend primarily of Sauvignon Blanc and S&eacute;millon, with a small percentage of Muscadelle. The wine is fermented in oak barrels, a process that adds complexity and structure, while still preserving the fresh, vibrant character of the fruit. The wine typically sees around 10-12 months of aging on the lees, which contributes to its creamy texture and depth of flavor.

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Pale yellow with greenish hues, indicating its freshness and youth.

Nose: Aromas of citrus, green apple, and pear dominate, with underlying notes of white flowers, honey, and a subtle hint of oak.

Palate: Crisp and lively on the palate, with flavors of lemon, lime, and grapefruit complemented by a touch of minerality and a creamy mouthfeel from the lees aging. The finish is long, clean, and slightly nutty, with a lingering impression of freshness.

Wine Spectator: 92 points - &ldquo;A beautifully balanced Bordeaux Blanc, with a bright acidity that cuts through the rich texture, offering flavors of citrus and stone fruit with a refined mineral backbone.&rdquo;

Robert Parker&rsquo;s Wine Advocate: 91 points - &ldquo;The 2020 Carbonnieux Blanc is a textbook example of the appellation, with its vivid fruit, floral notes, and a seamless integration of oak.&rdquo;

James Suckling: 93 points - &ldquo;This is a precise and focused white, with beautiful purity of fruit. The finish is vibrant and zesty, making it an excellent wine for aging.&rdquo;

Potential Food Pairings:

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Chateau-Carbonnieux-Pessac-Leognan-Blanc-2022-w2815766ib">Ch&acirc;teau Carbonnieux Blanc</a> is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of dishes:

Seafood: The wine&#39;s crisp acidity and citrus notes make it a perfect match for oysters, scallops, or a delicate fish like sole or halibut.

Poultry: Roast chicken or turkey with herbs and lemon will complement the wine&#39;s fresh flavors and creamy texture.

Cheese: Aged goat cheese or Comt&eacute; are excellent pairings, as the wine&#39;s acidity balances the richness of the cheese.

Vegetarian: A salad with citrus vinaigrette or a vegetable risotto would pair beautifully, highlighting the wine&#39;s fresh and vibrant character.

Bordeaux Blanc wines like <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Chateau-Carbonnieux-Pessac-Leognan-Blanc-2022-w2815766ib">Ch&acirc;teau Carbonnieux Blanc</a> offer wine enthusiasts an opportunity to explore a different side of Bordeaux. These wines, with their combination of freshness, complexity, and aging potential, deserve more attention. For those looking to expand their palate and discover an underappreciated gem, Bordeaux Blanc is a rewarding choice. Whether you&rsquo;re enjoying a glass with seafood or simply sipping it on a warm evening, these wines showcase the elegance and versatility of Bordeaux&rsquo;s white varieties.

Bordeaux is a name synonymous with some of the world's most prestigious red wines, but its white wines, particularly Bordeaux Blanc, often fly under the radar. While the reds of this region have garnered international fame, Bordeaux Blanc wines, crafted primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle grapes, are some of the wine world's best-kept secrets. These wines offer an elegant balance of freshness, complexity, and aging potential that can rival the finest whites from anywhere in the world.

Bordeaux Blanc: An Underappreciated Gem of the Wine World

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, our palates yearn for refreshing beverages that embody the essence of summer. For those new to the world of wine, choosing between cider, orange wine, and rosé can be a delightful journey. Each offers unique flavors and experiences perfect for warm weather sipping. In this article, we’ll explore three standout choices: Wolffer Dry Cider No. 139, Cune Viña Rosado 2023, and Spiritus Terrae Malvasia Orange 2021.

Savoring Summer: The Best Rosé Drink Choices from Cider-Orange-Rosé for Beginners

Navigating the wine list at a restaurant can be a daunting task, as many wine lovers have experienced. In our previous article on the tension of ordering wine at restaurants, we discussed this issue and shared some tips to help ease the process. However, one CorkRules user has recently encountered a situation that highlights just how challenging it can be.

The Switch? – #restaurantfail #winelistfail

Memorial Day weekend signals the official kick-off to summer, and what better way to celebrate than a backyard barbecue with friends and family? But for the wine lovers out there, the usual pairing of burgers and beer can feel a little, well, uninspired.

Fear not, fellow geeks! Let's ditch the predictable and dive into three exciting wine options that will have you sipping and savoring alongside the sizzling BBQ.

Memorial Day BBQ Bash: 3 Wines to Geek Out Over (While Grilling)

What is the right price for a bottle of wine at a restaurant? Wine pricing at restaurants is a hot topic of late but has many complexities. Let's dig into it and better understand the issues and some potential solutions.

The tension around wine pricing at restaurants?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a name that resonates with prestige and quality in the world of wine. This illustrious appellation is steeped in history dating back centuries and has been producing some of France's most celebrated wines for generations.



Nestled within the southern region of Rhône Valley, France lies Châteauneuf-du-Pape - translated as "the Pope's new castle". The area earned its moniker during the 14th century when it served as a summer residence for Popes who sought refuge from political turmoil in Rome.

The Rich History of Châteauneuf-du-Pape highlighting some great value wines

In the world of wine and food, we often find ourselves ensnared by ratings, stars, points – an endless parade of numbers that dictate our choices. We chase after high-rated wines or Michelin-starred restaurants with fervor only to be met with experiences that seldom live up to their lofty reputations. But amidst this whirlwind pursuit for perfection lies a simple truth - what truly makes wine and food special are not scores or accolades but pure experiences crafted from love.

The Serendipity of Experiences in Wine and Food

The world of sparkling wine is a vast one. While champagne has long been the reigning king, there's another contender that’s not only equally delicious but also offers great value for money - Cremant.

Cremant vs Champagne: The real deal for bubbles.

Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let’s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.



 Omakase, a term that translates to "I'll leave it up to you" in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It's not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

Omakase and Wine Pairing: A Booming Gastronomic Journey

Grace Hood

Michaels

Michaels

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you!

GH: Hey Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Today we&rsquo;re chatting about the iconic Santa Monica restaurant, Micheals.

GH: Oh man this place has been around forever! Since the 1970s! Has won all the awards, trained some iconic chefs. Excited to chat about it.&nbsp;

RT:&nbsp;Love it! What is their wine list looking like?

GH: A very easy to navigate 2 pages! Starting with some bubbles, b/c we always do, they have a really unique collection of champagne from some smaller boutique houses. This Grand cru from Domaine Vincey looks delish, as well as the 2012 Clos de Cazals

RT: Love seeing some new names in champagne! Not that there&rsquo;s anything wrong with the classics, but always fun to try different producers.

GH: Exactly. And especially on a small list like this, the sommelier obviously took special care to choose really unique brands.&nbsp;

RT: Love that. Is the same thing happening in the whites?

GH: It sure is Robert! They categorize their wines by style. For instance, they have &ldquo;lean and clean&rdquo;, &ldquo;a little more body&rdquo;, &ldquo;more bounce to the ounce&rdquo; sounds like the lyrics to a Megan the stallion song!

RT: haha I love that! How fun!

GH: In lean and clean, they have a Gruner Veltliner that&rsquo;s coming from the Tatomer vineyard out of the central coast of California which would be really interesting to try! We don&rsquo;t really see a lot of Gruner grown outside of &Aacute;ustria so that would be super fun.

RT: Oh, my how unique!

GH: And for a little more body ody ody ody hahaha sorry I couldn&rsquo;t help myself. In this group, I would def choose the Matthiasson white blend. They&#39;ve had a cult following for over a decade and their wine projects are always really unique.

RT: Love a wacky blend. Always such a cool experience.&nbsp; What about more bounce to the ounce? Gosh that&rsquo;s fun to say

GH: HAHA isn&rsquo;t it! Bounce to the ounce is going to have to be this Spanish white Catalonia blend. Anything from the Catalan region is ok by me.

RT: Oh yum gotta love Spanish whites. Are the reds equally as fun?

GH: 100% they are. Starting with &ldquo;light and bright&rdquo; they have a 2020 Nero d&#39;Avola from Sicily, which is basically as light and bright as you can get in a red!&nbsp;&nbsp;

RT: Oh totally. Those are always really refreshing. What category follows that?

GH: Get this....it&rsquo;s &ldquo;a well-balanced diet&rdquo; haha! Alright well let&rsquo;s see what they think is well balanced at Michaels.....well I see lots of Burgundies which you know I am partial to, but if we want something that&#39;s not French Pinot, I would do the 2015 Barbaresco from Cantina del Pino 

RT: Wow I am shocked you didn&rsquo;t choose a Burgundy haha

GH: I mean that is my like default setting when it comes to reds haha

RT: It totally is. So, what is the last category? Large and in charge? Can&rsquo;t wait to see what they have in store for us

GH: Large and in charge baby! And they were not kidding. For this one, I&rsquo;m going with one of my favorite California producers, Robert Sinskey, who I got to meet a few years ago. They&rsquo;ve got his 2013 SLD estate aka Stags Leap district Cabernet from Napa, and that would definitely qualify as large and in charge haha

RT: I love it. Now some of our listeners are on a budget. What are some great value wines on the Michaels&rsquo; list?

GH: They absolutely do. The one category I forgot at the top was simply titled &ldquo;Because Riesling&rdquo; haha and in there you have a super affordable 2020 Mosel Riesling from Julian Haart. 

RT: Love it. What about something in the reds?

GH: Done and done &ndash; the 2017 Tatomer Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara

RT: I should have known haha what about those special occasions once in a lifetime bottles?

GH: 2012 Vilmart and Cie Champagne, or you&#39;re thinking red, 2001 Mount Eden Cabernet 

RT: Fantastic! Grace, thank you so much for helping us navigate the list at Michael&rsquo;s. To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.&nbsp; If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@corkrules.</a><a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">c</a><a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">om</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists. Follow us on social media @corkrules and @wineswithgrace

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Fullglass Wines is a family-owned winery located in the heart of McLaren Vale, known for producing high-quality wines that express the unique terroir of the region.

Swanky, modern bar/restaurant featuring elevated Southern eats such as smoked grits & local carp.

Eddy V's Prime Seafood Restaurant

The View

Il Capriccio

Clarity

Bellissimo Restaurant

Bellissimo

Sandbar

Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern

Mirabelle at Three Village Inn

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CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

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Pierre Delize

Blanc de Blancs Brut NV

Chardonnay

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Terredora

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