Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesSliced-apple and lime with some aniseed and licorice. Iodine, too. Full-bodied with linear acidity and a fine tannin structure that goes on for minutes. 65% sauvignon blanc and 35% semillon. This is fantastic and so delicious now, but can age for a very long time.
Barrel Sample:97
Barrel Sample:94-96
Barrel Sample: 92-94
Showcases both plump and racy aspects, with verbena and tarragon notes infusing a core of white peach, star fruit and jicama. The long finish has nice clarity. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
From holdings in the north of the Médoc and incorporating an increasing percentage of Sémillon, the 2019 Cos d'Estournel Blanc offers up aromas of pear, confit citrus, lemon grass and pastry cream, followed by a full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate that's rich and enveloping, with lively acids and a long, saline finish. This is a fine effort that could embarrass plenty of Pessac-Léognan whites. Best after 2021.
Deeply colored, concentrated, and distinctive, St. Estephe is the go-to for great, age-worthy and reliable Bordeaux reds. Separated from Pauillac merely by a stream, St. Estephe is the farthest northwest of the highest classed villages of the Haut Medoc and is therefore subject to the most intense maritime influence of the Atlantic.
St. Estephe soils are rich in gravel like all of the best sites of the Haut Medoc but here the formation of gravel over clay creates a cooler atmosphere for its vines compared to those in the villages farther downstream. This results in delayed ripening and wines with higher acidity compared to the other villages.
While they can seem a bit austere when young, St. Estephe reds prove to live very long in the cellar. Traitionally dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, many producers now add a significant proportion of Merlot to the blend, which will soften any sharp edges of the more tannic, Cabernet.
The St. Estephe village contains two second growths, Chateau Montrose and Cos d’Estournel.
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.