Bordeaux
OCTOBER 2023
One of the most well-known wine regions in the world, Bordeaux makes a huge range of wines, including white blends (Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and sometimes Muscadelle), red blends (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc & sometimes other grapes depending on the location in Bordeaux) and sweet, white, dessert wines as well.
On the Left Bank of the Gironde River (Médoc, St-Estéphe, Pauillac, St-Julien, Margaux & more), the soil is gravelly and Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend. On the Right Bank (Pomerol, St-Emilion & more), the soil has more clay & limestone, where Merlot flourishes. In these areas, you see Merlot dominating the blend.
Bordeaux producers make everyday table wines to high-end, $100 bottles, capable of aging for decades. But those fancy wines are for another day. This month we're featuring a delicious, everyday, red & white blend from estates that are about 30 minutes apart on either side of the town of Libourne. Great fall wines. Enjoy!
Chateau Haut-Guillebot
Marie-Christine Labouille (pictured), the current owner, is the seventh generation (passed from mother to daughter since 1790) to grow the vines of the château and to produce fine, elegant and fruity Bordeaux wines. Building on the work of her mother and grandmother, she has developed the estate to its current size of 55 hectares.
Château Martinot 2020 Bordeaux Blanc
Bordeaux, France // Reg $17.99 | WINE CLUB $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
Blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc & 20% Sémillon. Super delicious, soft, easy-drinking Bordeaux Blanc. Grass, hay, acacia (white flowers, honey) on the nose. Lime, lemon, grapefruit, touch of nectarine on the palate. Drink now to 2 years. Enjoy with seafood dishes, vegetarian quiche dinner, roasted chicken with farmers market veggie gratin.
Vignobles Coudert
A family wine estate for 5 generations, the Coudert family has vineyards in Fronsac, Bordeaux Supérieur and Bordeaux appellations.
Château Cleyrac is made up of 12 hectares of vines mainly planted with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Coudert family has owned and run the property for the last several decades with Lydia Coudert, 5th generation winermaker, taking over in 2016.
Photos: Lydia Coudert pictured above (left) with her father & (right) her father with her son
Raymond, 40 years vineyard master, Vignobles Coudert
The entire estate has been certified High Environmental Value Level 3 since 2019. More than 30% of the surfaces of the property are meadows or woodlands creating as much biodiversity as possible. No herbicides are used. Since 2020, they have been practicing mating disruption, an environmentally friendly method for the fight against cluster worm.
Château Cleyrac 2020 Bordeaux Superior
Bordeaux, France // Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
90/10 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermentation with native yeasts, low-sulfite vinification, aged in stainless steel and cement vats. Gravel, earth, plums, black cherries. Pretty smooth. Easy drinking. Great value! Enjoy with grilled meats and dishes with mushrooms and root vegetables. Drink now to 3 years.
Photos: Lydia Coudert working in the vineyards
You can pick up your wines any time. We'll have them open to taste at our Saturday wine club pick-up tasting (always the second Saturday of the month). Hope to see you there!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop