Winemaker Notes
The Blanc de Lynch-Bages 2016, with its pale robe and green hues, is radiant in both the nose and mouth. It combines with finesse notes of citrus and exotic fruits with subtle spicy notes (vanilla, etc.). On the palate, the fresh attack increases in magnitude thanks to great Sémillon grapes. Its finish offers a remarkable aromatic persistence.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
This offers more proof that the whites in the Médoc have resisted the heat of August. The pH here is 3.01, and certainly the impression in the glass is of beautiful freshness with a creamy mid-palate of white peaches, honeysuckle and gentle citrus sorbet. Fermented at a low temperature in a combination of stainless steel, one year old barrels and 45% new oak with a very light toast, this is very delicate and extremely pretty. A blend of 52% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon and 18% Muscadelle.
Barrel Sample -
James Suckling
A vivid white with mango, lemon and peach aromas. Exotic yet fresh. Pear drop. Full-bodied, layered and flavorful. Juicy and clean. Always wonderful to drink, but can improve with age.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The light gold-colored 2016 Blanc de Lynch Bages has a classic, honeyed minerality and white grapefruit perfume that’s followed by a clean, medium-bodied, vibrant white that’s already drinking beautifully.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Blanc de Lynch-Bages delivers notions of ripe apples, spiced pears and lemon pie with touches of lime zest and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied with super intensity in the mouth, it has a seriously zesty palate and a long refreshing finish.
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Wine Spectator
Open, with modest lime, thyme and white asparagus notes. Quick finish.
Barrel Sample: 87-90 Points
The grapes are all hand picked and then carefully sorted before crushing. A very strict selection is made prior to blending and the wine is traditionally aged in oak barrels before bottling.
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.