Wine of the Week: Château des Antonins Bordeaux Blanc 2023

With temperatures soaring last week, I started digging through the fridge looking for something crisp and refreshing. I came up with a 2023 Château des Antonins Bordeaux Blanc. We have to remember that Bordeaux isn't just about red wine.

Wait... Bordeaux makes white wine?

When most people hear Bordeaux, they immediately think of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

But Bordeaux also produces some outstanding white wines that deserve far more attention than they receive.

Most dry White Bordeaux wines are blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, combining the bright citrus and freshness of Sauvignon Blanc with the richer texture and roundness of Sémillon. The result is a wine that's balanced, elegant, and incredibly food-friendly.

If you've tried New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and found it a little too grassy, too herbal, to racy, or too intense, don't give up on Sauvignon Blanc altogether.

Instead, find a bottle of White Bordeaux.

In the Glass

The Château des Antonins Bordeaux Blanc 2023 is composed of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon, a classic Bordeaux Blanc blend.

The wine opens with fresh aromas of citrus and tropical fruit before leading into flavors of:

• Lemon zest
• Tropical fruit
• A hint of straw
• Beautiful minerality

Rather than being loud or aggressively citrus-driven, this wine is refined. The Sémillon softens Sauvignon Blanc's sharper edges, creating a wine that's refreshing without being overly racy.

On a hot summer afternoon, it absolutely hit the spot.

Food Pairings

This is one of those wines that seems to pair with just about everything.

I'd happily serve it with:

• Grilled shrimp
• Goat cheese
• Summer salads
• Grilled chicken with herbs
• Fresh seafood
• Lemon pasta
• Roasted vegetables
• Mild cheeses

It's also perfectly enjoyable all by itself while relaxing on the porch—which is exactly what I did. (We have a great front porch)

Final Thoughts

White Bordeaux may not receive the same attention as Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand but perhaps it should.

It offers freshness without overwhelming acidity, complexity without heaviness, and versatility that makes it one of summer's most underrated wines.

If you're looking to expand your wine horizons—or simply want something refreshing that isn't another glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc—pick up a bottle of White Bordeaux.

This bottle price was under $15. A steel!

Making Bordeaux Affordable - Légende Wines

When you hear the term Bordeaux you immediately think of expensive out of reach wine. At least I do. However, there are many wines from Bordeaux that are not out of reach and are from those famous producers that you hear about at those cocktail parties.

Right Bank - Left Bank

First let me explain Bordeaux. There is the right bank and the left bank and the difference..The right bank is going to have a Merlot based wine blend and the left bank will be Cabernet Sauvignon based. To the base there will be up to 5 varietals blended. The left bank is home to the five First Growth wines from the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. While these wines are way out of my price range, some may produce a reasonably priced Bordeaux wine under another label, a hidden gem.

Légende Collection

Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) is one of the producers producing reasonably priced Bordeaux under another label called Légende Collection. The Collection’s objective is to offer classic Bordeaux wines with immediate charm and to offer people a selection of wines from prestigious origins. Legende produces wines from five of the major Bordeaux appellations: Bordeaux, Bordeaux Blanc, Medoc, Saint-Emilion and Pauillac under the direction of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) winemaker Diane Flamand. The grapes these wines are made of grew along side the grapes in the very expensive bottles. These grapes just didn’t make the first cut for the First Growth.

You too can drink a Lafite! Although Chateau Lafite Rothschild is out of your price range, the Légende Collection will be affordable, priced between $17.99 and $49.99. I received two samples of the Légende Collection for review and was quite impressed how easy drinking they were. I didn’t feel the need to decant and feel they will go with many seasonal dishes.

The Wines

2016 Légende Médoc is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon based with 40% Merlot and 50% of the final blend was aged in barrels. Layers of blackberries, plum and dark red fruit are soft and silky. Finishing notes of pepper and spice. SRP $24.99

2016 Légende Saint-Emilion is 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc. Sweet spice and vanilla notes escape the glass leading to a palate with nice blue and red fruit, with a hint of plum. Soft tannins with a nice soft spice that lingers on the finish. This wine was really easy drinking. SRP $36.99