Aromas of grapefruit, peach, apricot, white flowers and honey. The palate is rich, generous, ample and fruity, with very good tension. Lemon and grapefruit flavors from the Sauvignon Blanc delicately balance with the tropical fruits. The finish is long and fresh with mineral notes.
Herve Dubourdieu owns two vineyards in the Sauternes and Graves appellations as well as Roûmieu-Lacoste, situated in Haut Barsac, originates from his mother’s side of the family, dating back to 1890. He is well known for his sauternes. He also owns Château Graville-Lacoste and Château Ducasse, where he grows grapes for his Graves Blanc and Bordeaux Blanc.
Despite the pedigree and complexity of the terroir and the quality of the wines, Herve has a reputation for never being quite satisfied and aiming for better than perfectionism. This is most evident in his grape-sorting process for the Sauternes. Since botrytis is paramount to making Sauternes, he employs the best harvesters available, paying them double the average wage to discern between the “noble rot,” necessary to concentrate the sugars for Sauternes, and deleterious rot (a result of moist and undo wet conditions). Botrytis is a form of fungus that affects multiple sources, but most famously grapes. In the form of noble rot, botrytis dehydrates the grape and thus concentrates the sugars, leading to a condensed flavor and honeysuckle like richness in fermented form. The sorting process is fastidious, for example, an entire basket of fruit is rejected if a single grape with the harmful rot makes it in with healthy ones.
Roûmieu-Lacoste is in the region of Haut Barsac. The vineyards are just across the road from first Growth Château Climens on a calcareous clay on fissured rock, with red iron, white limestone, and grey flint gravel. This wine is aged and vinified in stainless steel for 5 months and bottles unfined and unfiltered.
Cheese, East Asian (Chinese/Japanese/Korean), Fish (white), Green Salads, Hors d'oeuvres, Just for Cocktailing, Perfect Aperitif , Shellfish, Sushi, Tapas, Vegetables