The Les Hauts De Lagarde Bordeaux Blanc 2016 is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon sourced from Certified Organic AOC vineyards in the Saint-Laurent-du-Bois district of the Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux in France (where the grapes are grown is very important in French wine, maybe even more important than which grape varietals are used). Both Red and White wines from Bordeaux are blends, with only certain grapes approved for wine production. Semillion is the most planted grape, followed by Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Since Sauv Blanc is popular right now most White Bordeaux blends in this price range feature a majority of Sauv Blanc. The wine is certified organic, vegan-friendly (some wines used animal by-products to filter the wine, but not here) with NO-GMO. The alcohol content is 12%.
The color is wheat yellow. The nose is pretty and delicate, light tropical fruit with hints of honey, lemon, peach, and lime. This is a bright and crisp wine, but with some weight to the flavors and mouthfeel. It tastes of melon and peach, plus Bosc pear and lemon. The mid-palate shows mild orange zest, a little bit of cream and a late pinch of spice. The acidity is well-balanced, enough to add structure but not get in the way of sipping pleasure. (side-note: many European White wines are a little on the acidic side since they are routinely paired with food and need to have a solid amount of acidity to find balance when consumed with the meal. In the US, we are more likely to drink wine as a beverage than as an accompaniment to food, so for American tastes and uses a little less acidity is better). The finish is very lengthy.
If you are a fan of Sauvignon Blanc, from New Zealand or elsewhere, you owe it to yourself to try Bordeaux Blanc. The Semillon adds a huskier flavor and cuts some of the sharper Sauvignon Blanc flavors present in the NZ Sauv Blanc. The Les Hauts De Lagarde Bordeaux Blanc 2016 is a tasty, well-made White Blend, and it should be found a few bucks north of ten dollars. I usually prefer my White wines at or near room temperature, but put a chill on the Les Haut de Lagarde to bring out all its charm.
