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2013 Château Respide-Médeville, White Bordeaux, Graves Blanc

Bordeaux, France 2013 (750mL)
$22.00
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Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
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Alcohol

2013 Château Respide-Médeville, White Bordeaux, Graves Blanc


This wine hails from Bordeaux’s Graves region, which lies on the Garonne’s left bank, south of Medoc. The only sub-region to boast sweet, red and white wine, Graves is home to the divine, saffron-laced sweet wines of Sauternes, the famous reds (and whites) of Château Haut-Brion as well as the best white wines in Bordeaux. Taking its name from the gravel soils left over from the ice age, Graves’ cultivated history reaches back even further than the now-famous Medoc. The Medoc was once mere marshland until the Dutch drained what would be prime real estate in the seventeenth century. In fact, Eleanor of Aquitane’s marriage to Henry II in the Middle Ages ushered in the long relationship of wine trade between Bordeaux and England and Graves was the source of England’s prized claret for centuries.
 
The owners and producers of Respide-Médeville, Julie and Xavier Gonet- Médeville, are products of rich winemaking history as well. While Julie descends from the Château Gilette clan, Xavier finds his roots amongst the growers of Champagne’s famous Le Mesnil. Founded by Julie’s father, Christian, in 1959, Château Respide-Médeville, under the guidance of this attentive husband-wife team, continues to make world-class, terroir-driven Graves Blanc and Rouge from the signature gravel and clay soils. This 2013 Graves Blanc is a blend of 50% Sémillon, 48% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle. Vinified at low, controlled temperatures then aged in 50% in stainless tanks while the remaining 50% is aged for twelve months in a maximum of 20% new French oak, this example allows the precise minerality to shine through the aromatic complexity and beautifully concentrated texture.
 
This wine exhibits a golden yellow core with slightly green reflections on the rim. The aromatics are fruit-forward, creamy and incredibly concentrated boasting notes of passion fruit, pineapple meringue, papaya and preserved lemon alongside dry crème soda, beeswax, fresh white and yellow flowers and crushed stones. The delightfully viscous palate is near full-bodied with flavors similar to the nose enhanced by additional yellow mango, lemon pith and finely crushed minerality that drives a long finish full of luscious tropical characteristics. This style of white Bordeaux is at an ideal place to drink now before the fresh tropical notes give way to more savory characteristics. However, it will evolve and keep over the next five to seven years; I just prefer the current expression of this wine for a perfect summertime nectar that will undoubtedly impress across the board. With ample fruit, balanced with freshness and minerality and a casting director’s couch full of personality, this budget-friendly wine is ideal for a summer standalone or as a partner to various cuisines in almost any context. Try this grilled swordfish topped with mango salsa to round out a legendary summer night.
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Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Sub-Region
FranceGraves Blanc
Soil
Gravel, Sand and Clay
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
50% Sémillon, 48% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
Stainless Steel and 20% New French

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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