The 2023 Bordeaux Blanc from Château de Malleret is a wine that radiates charm straight away. Young, fresh and pure, with an expression that immediately invites you to raise your glass. In the glass the wine shows a bright, light yellow colour with green reflections — a visual promise of the freshness to come. As soon as you bring your nose to the glass, a fine, aromatic freshness greets you. The Sauvignon Blanc opens the play with notes of lime, passion fruit and green apple, while the Sémillon provides a subtle floral undertone of white blossom and linden blossom. There is also a mineral hint, like wet pebbles after a summer shower — a detail that gives the wine finesse and tension. On the palate the attack is taut and lively. The acidity is fresh but not sharp, dancing and invigorating rather. Citrus fruit stays in the lead — grapefruit, lemon peel and green pear — with a touch of peach underneath and a hint of salinity that gives the wine extra depth. The texture is light yet creamy in the middle, an effect of the blend with Sémillon, which gives the wine body without losing its freshness. The finish is bright and clean, with a touch of minerality and citrus zest that lingers a little longer. Château de Malleret 2023 is a wine that seamlessly combines freshness and elegance, and therefore shows particularly well both on its own and at the table.
Fresh goat’s cheese, sea bass ceviche, or a salad with fennel and citrus vinaigrette.
Château de Malleret, located on the Left Bank of the Bordeaux region in the commune of Le Pian-Médoc, has a history dating back to the 17th century. The estate is best known for its classic red wines from the Haut-Médoc, but also produces a refined white wine range under the name Balzane, named after one of the estate’s racehorses — a nod to the château’s historic equestrian tradition. The vineyards for the white wine lie on cool soils and are tended with care to bring out the fresh expression of Sauvignon Blanc and the structure of Sémillon to the full.