CLOS FLORIDENE & CHATEAU DOISY-DAENE

BORDEAUX, FRANCE 2016

With the forecast of warm weather in our midst, I can't think of a better wine to pour than a crisp, refreshing, mineral driven white. To many people Bordeaux means red, but it's their enchanting whites that continue to captivate me. A classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon either aged in oak or stainless steel, they stand apart for their nuance - with a refreshing energy and spectrum of flavors and textures that continue to unfold with each enticing sip. Elegant, silky and beautifully textured with a brightness and overall energy, these whites almost always carry with them a certain gravitas and there's nothing more satisfying than enjoying the subtle pleasures of a wine with depth and elegance - at a price that won't break the bank. With Bordeaux Futures well under way, we're continually reminded of the soaring prices that red Bordeaux commands and how under-valued their whites remain. Though I don't necessarily agree with the valuation of these wines, I can't help but relish in the fact that I can still afford to buy superbly elegant, age-worthy whites for a fraction of the price - even from one of the most well-respected winemakers in Bordeaux, Denis Dubourdieu.
 

Nicknamed the 'Pope of Wine' in Bordeaux and awarded both Decanter's Man of the Year and the Legion d'Honneur in 2016, Dubourdieu was born into wine as Cheateau Doisy-Daene in Barsac has been in his family for nearly a century. Seen as an expert for his white wine production, he is a defining figure in the revival of white Bordeaux. As a professor at the University of Bordeaux, his influential research on botrytis, white wine vinification and aging revolutionized how white Bordeaux is made today. Though he consulted with dozens of prominent estates including Yquem, Cheval Blanc and Chateau Margaux including and much of his life's work was devoted to Doisy-Daene, his other greatest accomplishment was Floridene. Established in 1982, he named it to echo his wife's name, Florence. Though both wines are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grown on the same terroir of shallow soil on top of limestone bedrock, the Doisy-Daene is aged entirely in oak while the Clos Floridene is aged mainly in stainless steel. With both whites featuring a pronounced minerality and lively acidity, they are an invigorating and refreshing example of white Bordeaux at its finest. As the summer nears - these are two bottles I will have stocked to open at a moment's notice. So for one week - we're offering an incredible deal on these already unbelievable value whites. At 25% off by the six-pack (sub-$30/btl), this is an offer you don't want to miss!