2021 Chateau Tassin Bordeaux Blanc 750 ml

Picture a Bordeaux wine boasting terrific aromatic complexity, texture, and focused acidity.

Now imagine that in a white wine. Because Bordeaux’s dry Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc blends deliver those same characteristics—and the 2021 Château Tassin does it with superb balance and poise, and the exceptional food-friendliness makes Bordeaux Blanc one of our year-round 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 weight. Its 40% Sémillon brings body and tropical fruit, while 30% Sauvignon Blanc adds striking limestone minerality, 20% Sauvignon Gris delivers bright vivacity, and 10% Muscadelle contributes a touch of richness.

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

Bordeaux’s summer of 2021 wasn’t a heat-happy marathon like previous years. It crept through May, June, and July with relatively cool, wet weather, giving white grapes beautiful acidity and aromatic complexity. A warmer August allowed for extra hang time for developing ripe fruit flavor, and most growers harvested before the September rains to seal the deal on what Jancis Robinson MW called “an absolutely brilliant vintage for white Bordeaux.”

It was especially beautiful on Tassin’s vineyard slopes, which overlook Rions—a commune dating back to the 12th century—as well as plains on the Garonne’s right bank. They farm their land sustainably and age their wine on the fine lees in stainless steel, developing texture while preserving fruit purity.

This bottle has the acidity and minerality to pair with everything from pesto pasta to seared halibut, but enough complexity to stand alone on a pink-skied summer evening.