Bordeaux 2023 En Primeur
Dry White

It has been a constant bugbear of mine that we don’t drink more dry white Bordeaux in the UK. With some exceptions, pricing is very sensible compared to the reds, and the quality of the wine offered at the lower end of the price spectrum is favourably comparable to what you’ll find in other regions of the world that produce similar wines. Sauvignon Blanc features widely, which can offer a crowd-pleasing style to rival Sancerre and New Zealand. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc, the option to use Semillon and Muscadelle and barrel ageing all add to the winemakers’ armoury to produce greater variety.

The cooler summer and warmth before harvest made the wines far more appealing than the slightly ‘fat’ 2022s. These 2023s have great concentration but wonderfully refreshing acidity. I thought the Semillon-based wines this year were especially noteworthy. Château Marjosse Blanc, Lune d’Argent, Château Tronquoy Blanc, and Blanc de Lynch Bages were particularly delightful at their likely respective price points.