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Grand Enclos du Château de Cérons, Graves Blanc

Bordeaux, France 2008 (750mL)
$29.00
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Grand Enclos du Château de Cérons, Graves Blanc

Every time a Bordeaux Blanc crosses my desk is a bittersweet moment: This category mostly falls on deaf ears, despite being 1) an enduring wine classic; 2) repeatedly praised by the world’s greatest wind minds; and 3) crafted by A-List châteaux like Haut-Brion, Domaine de Chevalier, and Smith Haut Lafitte. While I’d love to sell wines from these kingpin producers, pricing and availability aren’t typically on our side, so we decided to introduce you to this category with a truly unforgettable, shockingly affordable aged wine. 
Today’s offer will completely shift your views on Bordeaux—and don’t worry, it’s good news all the way. Consider the following specs: iconic ‘Left Bank’ terroir; sustainably farmed old vines; barrel-aging with new oak; 10 years of quiet cellaring...on paper it sounds like a Bordelais force to be reckoned with. And it is, just not the shade of wine you’re imagining! This is a richly layered, bone-dry white that possesses all the ingredients a connoisseur checks off when tasting elite wines of the world. Incredibly rounded and startlingly fresh, with an indelible terroir stamp, this 2008 Graves Blanc will single-handedly open your eyes to a wine that has been the backbone of Bordeaux for centuries. 
Today’s label isn’t some obscure producer in the backwoods (swamps?) of Bordeaux, either: Grand Enclos du Château de Cérons is one of the prominent names in Graves, as noted in a number of top Bordeaux publications. Graves is one of the most ancient appellations of Bordeaux, and it is thought that vines were first planted here over two millenniums ago! It’s primely situated too, beginning at Pessac-Léognan’s southern border and continuing past the jewel box that is Sauternes. 

Not to be confused with Château de Cérons, Grand Enclos du Château de Cérons gained its independence after an older estate was divided up and Grand Enclos came away with 10 hectares of vines surrounded by a towering wall of stone. And what a piece of land this is: Some of their Sémillon plantings exceed 80 years of age. Run by a powerhouse trio since the turn of the 21st century, the estate strives to create top-tier wines—and to do so at a rock-bottom price. This means crafting a Bordeaux Blanc with heavy proportions of Sémillon, aging with judicious oak, and not rushing the final product out to market. It’s a blend of 60% Sémillon and 40% both Sauvignon Blanc/Gris aged 12+ months in 50% new French oak. 

Todays 2008 pours a deep yellow-gold and immediately erupts with heady and exotic fragrances. From citrus to stone to tropical fruit, you’ll find it all in this wine. Aromas of white peach, apricot, yellow apples, grapefruit, tangerine, citrus blossoms, melon skin, honey, white flowers, wet gravel, herbs, and integrated baking spices all unfold from the glass, becoming more pungent with oxygen exposure. After 15 minutes in the glass, it was firing on all cylinders. The medium-plus bodied palate is rich, ripe and rounded, but most impressive here is the level of freshness: this effortlessly holds its 11 years of age and I imagine it drinking at a high level for 5-7 years to come. It finishes dry with mouthwatering freshness that is juxtaposed by the waxy goodness of quality Sémillon and lingers with a savory/honeysuckle interplay. This is one amazing bottle of wine for $29, easily the best white Bordeaux value I’ve had in years. Serve it in all-purpose white stems around 50 degrees alongside a hearty fish preparation incorporating halibut or turbot. This Bordeaux has both the texture and acidity to make magic happen!
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Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Sub-Region
FranceGraves
Soil
Gravelly Sand
Farming
Lutte Raisonnée
Blend
Sémillon 60%, Sauvignon Blanc 30%, Sauvignon Gris 10%
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
50% New French
TEMP.
55
Glassware
All-Purpose White
Drinking
Now-2023
Pairing
Halibut w/ Lemon Butter & Shallots

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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