Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A vibrant and fresh white with crisp and zesty notes of lemons, green apples, pineapple and flint. Medium body. Very fresh and drinkable. Two-thirds semillon and one-third sauvignon blanc.
Barrel Sample: 91-92 -
Vinous
The 2021 Les Charms Godard is mostly Sémillon in this vintage, with smaller pieces of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. In 2021, Les Charmes Godard is brighter and more focused than in the past. Time in bottle will help release some its underlying texture, but readers won't find the softer contours that are typical here. As has been the custom for a number of years, it was vinified and aged in 500-liter barrels, but with the malolactic fermentation blocked. In 2021, the last parcels were harvested on September 23 and 24, exceedingly late by today's standards. –Antonio Galloni
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Decanter
Fresh and zesty, clean and crisp, this has good balance between being succulent and juicy, almost sherbet and then creamy and supple. Good persistence and intensity, no let down in the middle with a joyful lift on the finish.
Barrel Sample: 91 -
Jeb Dunnuck
A more Sémillon-dominated white, the 2021 Château Les Charmes-Godard Blanc has a bright, vibrant style in its clean citrus, honeyed lime, and minty, mineral-laced aromas and flavors. These carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium-bodied and has a supple, layered mouthfeel and outstanding length.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aromas of spring flowers, grapefruit, jasmine and orchard fruit preface the 2021 Blanc, a medium-bodied, juicy and fleshy wine with a crystalline, elegant texture that concludes with elegant dry extracts and a saline, mineral finish. This is a blend of 65% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Sauvignon Gris.
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Wine Spectator
Zingy and pure, with a nice chiseled feel to the mix of lemon pith, honeysuckle and white peach flavors. Reveals a light quinine echo through the breezy finish. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris.
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.
On the right bank of Bordeaux between St. Emilion and Bergerac, Cotes de Francs boasts southwestern exposed slopes that produce robust Merlot-based wines. A tiny amount of Sémillon is grown and made in both dry and sweet styles.