Chateau Paradis Casseuil Bordeaux Blanc 2005
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Chateau Paradis Casseuil is a former dependence of Chateau Rieussec. It also underwent Rieussec’s troubled history in the 20th century. Taken under Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)’s wing in 1984, Chateau Paradis Casseuil’s cellars are located in the heart of the vineyard located in Sainte-Foy-la-Longue.
The Chateau Paradis Casseuil cellars, located in Sainte-Foy-la-Longue are used to vinify the red wines. White wines are vinified at Chateau Rieussec, benefiting from the same modern technical instruments used for the Grand Vin Chateau Rieussec.
The vineyard is located in the three districts of Casseuil, Caudrot, and Sainte-Foy-la-Longue in the appellation Entre-Deux-Mers. There are 23 hectares (57.5 acres) of vines including 17 hectares of red varietals on claylimestone soil at Caudrot and Ste-Foy, and clay and gravel soil at Casseuil. The red varietals are 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% of Cabernet Franc. And the white varietals are 60% of Semillion, 20% of Muscadelle and 20% of Sauvignon blanc.
The wines of Chateau Paradis Casseuil are bottled in spring without ageing in oak barrels. This allows the wines to keep their freshness and the fruit. They can be enjoyed within 2 to 3 years after harvest.
Sometimes light and crisp, other times rich and creamy, Bordeaux White Blends typically consist of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Often, a small amount of Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris is included for added intrigue. Popularized in Bordeaux, the blend is often mimicked throughout the New World. Somm Secret—Sauternes and Barsac are usually reserved for dessert, but they can be served before, during or after a meal. Try these sweet wines as an aperitif with jamón ibérico, oysters with a spicy mignonette or during dinner alongside hearty Alsatian sausage.
One of the most important wine regions of the world, Bordeaux is a powerhouse producer of wines of all colors, sweetness levels, and price points. Separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a coastal pine forest, this relatively flat region has a mild maritime climate, marked by cool wet winters and warm summers. Annual weather differences create significant vintage variations, making Bordeaux an exciting French wine region to follow.
The Gironde estuary, a defining feature of Bordeaux, separates most of the region into the Left Bank and the Right Bank. Farther inland, where the Gironde splits into the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, the bucolic, rolling hills of the area in between, called Entre-Deux-Mers, is a source of great quality, approachable reds and whites.
The Left Bank, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, contains the Médoc, Graves, and Sauternes, as well as the region’s most famous chateaux. Merlot is important here as the perfect blending grape for Cabernet Sauvignon adding plush fruit and softening Cabernet's sometimes hefty tannins. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec may also be used in the Left Bank Bordeaux wine blends.
Merlot is the principal Bordeaux wine variety of the Right Bank; Cabernet Franc adds structure and complexity to Merlot, creating wines that are concentrated, supple, and more imminently ready for drinking, compared with their Left Bank counterparts. Key appellations of the Right Bank include St. Emilion and Pomerol.
Dry and sweet Bordeaux white wines are produced throughout the region from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and sometimes Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris. Some of the finest dry whites can be found in the Graves sub-appellation of Pessac-Léognan, while Sauternes is undisputedly the gold standard for sweet wines. Small amounts of rosé and sparkling Bordeaux wines are made in the region as well.