White wines of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux is famous for its red blends. But not  only red wines are famous there!
Dry white wines are made  in many districts of the region, including a few wines from the predominantly red-wine Haut-Médoc area. But most of Bordeaux’s dry and semi-dry white wines come from the following three districts:

• Pessac-Léognan
• Graves
• Entre-Deux-Mers 
  
  
   
  
  
  White wine from the Graves region  is usually consumed young and will show fresh citrus and grassy flavors. Those white wines are made mostly from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion.
  Some  producers favoring and others avoiding barrel fermentation and/or maturation.
   Wines made in Pessac-Leognan tend to be more expensive. The very best dry white wines of Pessac-Léognan contain about 50 percent of Sémillon
   Most of the wines labeled Entre-Deux-Mers are fresh, fruity, stainless steel fermented, and designed for immediate consumption.
  
  
  Most dry white Bordeaux can be enjoyed young, when their fruity, floral aromas are most concentrated. Of all the Sauvignon Blancs made in the world, White Bordeaux  is more citrus and floral vs. grassy and herbal. And the acidity is not very high.
  
  
  
  
  White Bordeaux is mostly made from:
  
  
  Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc and Muscadelle - Typical blends are usually 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon blanc.
   Sauvignon Blanc is native to Bordeaux. 
  
  
  
  
  Sweet wines
  
  
  The sweet wine producing communes of Sauternes and Barsac are located in the southern part of the Graves district along the Garonne River.Humidity is so high, courtesy of mists produced when the small and cooler Ciron River meets the larger, warmer Garonne. These mists, however, are important for the way in which they encourage noble rot in the white grapes grown here—Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.
  The sweet wines produced here are noted for their high degree of concentration
  Facing Sauternes AOC, but on the other side of the Garonne River, sit the small AOCs of Loupiac and St. Croix-du-Mont. The wines here are produced in the same spirit as those of Sauternes, but are lighter, less concentrated, and less expensive. Given the high costs associated with the wines of Sauternes, they can make an excellent introduction to the sweet wines of Bordeaux.
  The sweet wines of Bordeaux can only be made with the unique partnership of botrytis. Botrytis is a fungus which  forms on grapes in the fall when cool, humid mornings are followed up by warm, dry afternoons and the grapes are overripen. This fungus sucking out all the liquids from the berries resulting  shriveled, concentrated, raisin-like clusters. This results in a more intense, concentrated final product.
   The secret to sweet Bordeaux wines is careful picking. Grapes are hand picked, pickers may come back more than 5 times selecting only botrytised clusters.
  
  
  Food pairing for White Bordeaux.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   (picture from Google)
  
  
  White Bordeaux is good with vegetable dishes, as well as sea food and fish pairing.
  We have to be careful pairing White Bordeaux with acidic foods that can overshadow the wine.
  
  
  Pairing for sweet bordeaux
  
  
  The younger sweet wines are more fresher and they are paired with scallops, salmon, poultry.
  Famous pairing for these sweet wines is foie gras.
   The older ( 5-10 years) sweet wines show more  honey, apricot, spice and almond flavors. In older wines the sweetness decreases as the nose of the wine is more subtle. These older vintages taste better with fruit-based pastry, almond cake, creme brulee.
  
  
  For my Sauternes
  

  Le Dauphin De Guiraud 2005, Ac Sauternes, 2nd Wine Of Château Guiraud
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I made Pithivier
  
  
  
  Recipe
  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/almond-orange-pithiviers/#&panel1-1
  
  
  Sweet Bordeaux has to be served chilled!
  
  
  
  
  I hope You like our virtual travel and tasting!
  See you next time! 
  Cheers!