Dry
white Bordeaux wines
- Soil and vineyards
Vineyards ideally
suited to producing dry white wines are located on a great variety of soils and
sub-soils. Gravelly soil is the speciality of the Garonne river's left bank.
The right bank vineyards are composed of soil that is more a mixture of clay
and limestone, or clay and sand. The triple alliance of soil, sub-soil and climate
explains the amaizing diversity and individual character of Bordeaux vineyards.
- Grape varieties
The elegant arome,
softness and vivacity of Bordeaux dry white wines comes from the subtle blend
of several grape varieties. Sauvigon Blanc provides a concentrated bouquet
and crispness on the palate.
Sémillon gives a delicately scented wine that is very full and
round. Muscadelle makes wine that is low in acidity quite round and aromatic.
Small quantities of Colombard and Ugni Blanc are sometimes added.
- Vinification
Bordeaux dry whites
are made from white-skinned grapes with white juice. As opposed to red wines,
the object is not to extract colour or tannin, but rather to preserve the characteristic
aroma of the different grape varieties.
- From harvest
to must.
The white wine grape
harvest, whether mechanical or by hand, usually precedes that of other types
of wine in Bordeaux. Once the grapes have arrived in the cellar, they are crushed
and pressed. The resulting juice called must , is kept apart from
pips and grape skins. The slight addition of sulphur avoids the risk of oxidation.
- Settling
This operation concists
of separating the must from suspended particles by mean of natural sedimentation.
- Alcoholic fermentation
This takes place
at low temperature ( 18-20°C/65-68°F ) and lasts from 12 to 15 days.
- Malolactic
fermentation
Bordeaux white wines
do not undergo malolactic fermentation in order to retain maximum freshness.
- Racking and
bottling
The wine is filtered
once the alcoholic fermentation has come to an end. Ageing is usually relatively
short, and the wine is bottled within a year of the harvest.
- Contribution
by oenological research
Certain Bordeaux
dry white wines have been able to take advantage of new techniques developed
by modern oenological research such as skin contact, ageing on the yeast and
barrel fermentation. These new techniques aim to bring out the best possible
aromas out of each grape variety and produce wines that are rounder, "fatter"
and longer-lived.
- Taste description
of dry white Bordeaux
Each appellation
comes from a well-defined geographical area with its own specific rules regarding
viticulture, production methods and ageing. Hoewever, there are a certain number
of points which all dry white Bordeaux wines share :
- an irrefutable
nobleness : the wines are a light briliant color and fruity, crisp and leave
a delightful fresh impression on the palate.
- aromatic quality
that come to the fore quite quickly. Most dry white Bordeaux can be enjoyed
young, when their fruity, floral aromas are most concentrated.
- Advice on how
to serve and appreciate
Dry white Bordeaux
is best stored on its side in a cool, dark place well away from strong odours
and vibrations. In order to taste the wine under ideal conditions, it is best
to chill it down slowly to the right temperature (8-10°C/46-50°F ). It is advised
to use a traditional Bordeaux-shaped wine glass which enhances the bouquet and
taste.
Innumerable food and wine matches, from the most classic to the most unexpected,
suit dry white Bordeaux admirably and inspire imaginative cooking : shellfish,
seafood, grilled fish, fried fish, steamed fish and fished in a medium-light
sauce. It is also well worth discovering the merits of dry white Bordeaux as
an accompaniment to delicatessen meats, cold roast pork, pâtés and
even preserved duck. These wines also make a perfect aperitif.
- Dry white Bordeaux
in a few figures
Vineyard area : 14,584
hectares ( 36,037 acres).
Grape varieties : 58% Sémillon, 21% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Muscadelle and
9% Ugni Blanc.
Annual average production : 139,000,000 bottles of which 61% are exported.
The six major export markets are : Holland, the United Kingdom, the United States,
Belgium and Canada.
