2020 Chateau Tassin Bordeaux Blanc 750 ml

Picture a Bordeaux wine with aromatic complexity, fine texture, and focused acidity. If you’re thinking of a red, think again, because the region’s dry Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc blends deliver those same characteristics—and the 2020 Château Tassin does it with balance, poise, and the exceptional food-friendliness makes Bordeaux Blanc one of our dinner-party staples. 

Hailing from vineyards along the Garonne River in one of Bordeaux’s oldest medieval towns, the Tassin is a bone-dry marriage of freshness and depth. Its 40% Sémillon brings body and tropical fruit, while 30% Sauvignon Blanc adds striking acidity and minerality, 20% Sauvignon Gris delivers roundness, and 10% Muscadelle contributes a touch of richness. 

That one-two punch of fruit vibrancy and a broad, textured mouthfeel distinguishes Bordeaux Blancs from New World Sauvignon Blancs, which often focus primarily on crisp refreshment. 

Bordeaux’s 2020 vintage rocketed out of the gate with a sweltering spring and didn’t let up for a second. The third fantastic Bordeaux vintage in a row, it was far hotter and drier than its predecessors, eliciting rich fruit flavor and intense aromatics in the grapes. Most growers made the call to begin picking in mid-August—much earlier than usual—in order to maintain lively acidity. 

Tassin’s vineyards occupy the slopes overlooking Rions, a commune dating back to the 12th century, as well as plains on the right bank of the Garonne. They farm their land sustainably and age their wine in stainless steel on the fine lees, preserving fresh-fruit purity while developing splendid texture. 

This bottle can pair with everything from fresh pasta clothed in basil pesto to seared halibut, but has enough complexity to stand alone as the perfect complement to a pink-skied summer evening.