Winemaker Notes
Mineral, fresh and vibrant, AltO 2023 shines bright. Its attractive bright fresh color catches the eye and awakens the senses with curiosity. The subtle aromas of white flowers, enhanced by a hint of citrus, reveal a seductive freshness on the nose. On the palate, this seduction has a captivating minerality finishing with great finesse.
Blend: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Sémillon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A white with density and focus, offering sliced apple, pear and dried mango. It's full-bodied with a creamy, salty and dried-pear character at the finish. Already showing a hint of matchstick. 90% sauvignon blanc and 10% semillon.
Barrel Sample: 93-94 -
Vinous
The 2023 Alto de Cantenac Brown is a very pretty dry white. Tangerine peel, white flowers, chalk and light tropical accents grace this steely, crisp white from Cantenac Brown. Vinification and aging in barrel (10% new) with lees stirring build texture.
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.
Silky, seductive and polished are the words that characterize the best wines from Margaux, the most inland appellation of the Médoc on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Margaux’s gravel soils are the thinnest of the Médoc, making them most penetrable by vine roots—some reaching down over 23 feet for water. The best sites are said to be on gentle outcrops, or croupes, where more gravel facilitates good drainage.
The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area. In 1855 the finest chateaux were deemed on the basis of reputation and trading price—at that time. In 1855, Chateau Margaux achieved first growth status, yet it has been Chateau Palmer (officially third growth from the 1855 classification) that has consistently outperformed others throughout the 20th century.
Chateau Margaux in top vintages is capable of producing red Cabernet Sauvignon based wines described as pure, intense, spell-binding, refined and profound with flavors and aromas of black currant, violets, roses, orange peel, black tea and incense.
Other top producers worthy of noting include Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, Lascombes, Brane-Cantenac, and d’Issan, among others.
The best wines of Margaux combine a deep ruby color with a polished structure, concentration and an unrivaled elegance.