Château Grand Village, Blanc, Bordeaux, 2023
A wine of beautiful ease and equilibrium. A gentle unctuosity and smooth mouthfeel is enlivened by a firm, guiding line of citrus freshness. Notes of salt and dry extract add to the feeling of freshness, complimenting the juicy pink grapefruit characteristics and fleshy texture. The finish is lifted, bright and surprisingly long. Château Grand Village white originiates from clay rich soils on top of limestone mother rock. The 2023 is a blend of 80% Sauvignon blanc and 20% Semillon, both harvested before the end of August.
critic reviews
Pink grapefruit, grated ginger, citrus, the same sense of energy and lift that you find in the all the wines of the Lafleur team, and yet at such a brilliant price. A value pick every year, and this is bursting out of the glass. Harvest 23 to 25 August. Single point upscore.
The 2023 Grand Village Blanc was a little reticent on the nose when I tasted it, opening gradually with apple blossom and light grapefruit scents, just a touch of ginger. The palate is well balanced with fine depth and grip, lightly spiced, with a more textural Grand Village on the finish. Enjoy over the next decade.
A blend of 80% Sauvignon and 20% Semillon, the 2023 white Grand Village springs with spritely notes of lime leaves, fresh lemons, and yuzu, plus suggestions of white pepper and chalk dust. The medium-bodied palate is vibrant with great tension, finishing long and zesty.
Compared to the 2022, the 2023 Grand Village Blanc is more fruity and dense, evoking aromas of lemon oil, verbena, kumquat and confit citrus. Broad but tensile, its medium-bodied with a fleshy core of fruit and a delicately phenolic frame that segues into a chalky, saline and bright finish. This blend of 80% Sauvignon and 20% Semillon is simply stunning.