2015 White Bordeaux Wine Pessac Leognan and other appellations

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Yes, I know that 90% of all Bordeaux wines are red. But that should not take anything away from the delicious, 2015 white Bordeaux wines.

Frankly, 2015 Pessac Leognan was very strong for both red and dry white Bordeaux wine. Recent vintages like 2013 and 2011 are fresher, and perhaps just a little bit more interesting, with higher higher acidities, but the 2015 white Bordeaux wines are worth looking into for their unique combination of fresh acidities, lush textures, concentration and sweet, ripe, crisp, yellow fruits. If you want to read tasting notes and ratings for all the top wines from the 2015 vintage, please read any of these articles: 2015 Bordeaux Barrel Tasting Notes for the Best 500 Wines!

2015 white Bordeaux wines are the product of an early vintage. Some harvesting took place as early as the week of August 24. However, most of the growers did not begin picking until the following week. The hot, dry, growing season for the 2015 white Bordeaux wines could have been a problem, due to the early season scorching heat that took place in June and July. But the vintage was saved and made by the combination of the rains that fell in the beginning of August, and the drop in temperatures that invigorated the vines. The sunny, albeit still cooler days and the colder, evening temperatures in September also helped, as they added much needed acidities to the grapes. You can read about the 2015 harvest and vintage in detail to give you a good idea on what took place during the growing season for the entire Bordeaux region: 2015 Bordeaux Vintage and Harvest Report

Interestingly, each year it seems like another chateaux adds a new white Bordeaux wine to their portfolio. While we wait for the white Bordeaux from Chateau Cheval Blanc to be named, as well as released, (Yes, this is 100% true!) this year, Chateau du Tertre in Margaux added an interesting white Bordeaux wine to their portfolio and so did Croix de Labrie in St. Emilion, as well as a few other estates from various appellations. While most of the vineyards have been planted to approved Bordeaux varietals, some growers have been planting Chardonnay as well.

There has also been a recent, continuing trend in Sauternes by growers to make more, dry white Bordeaux wine. Producers in that appellation have not only increased the amount of dry white wine being produced, they have also added new, dry wines to their portfolio. Speaking of Sauternes, in 2015 it was not only the dry white wines that were successful this year, this was also another absulutely, stellar vintage for 2015 Sauternes and Barsac wines!

2015 dry, white Bordeaux wine tasting notes from Pessac Leognan, Graves, Medoc, AOC Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Cotes de Francs and other appellations…

2015 d’Aiguilhe Blanc – The second vintage for the white wine here gets going with Fresh grapefruit, vanilla and sweet lemon chiffon, produced in a forward style. – 90 Pts

2015 Alto de Cantenac Brown – Flowers, honey, lemon chiffon pie, lime and green apple scents pop with no effort. Using 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon, the wine is fresh, lively and vibrant, with loads of just squeezed citrus in the finish. Enjoy this young for its fresh, juicy fruits. – 90 Pts

2015 Bad Boy Blanc – The second vintage for this Bad Boy. Made from 100% Chardonnay, the wine is fun to place in a blind tasting. Easy to drink, perhaps not extremely complex, but there is a refreshing acidity to the sweet, yellow fruits, green apples and hints of pear with just a dab of vanilla to add sweetness to the wine. – 87 Pts

2015 Bonnet Entre Deux Mers Blanc – Medium bodied, forward, fresh, lemon lime nose, with a light, fresh, lemon and green apple finish. This is a nice summer quaffer that should be enjoyed in its first year or two of life. – 86 Pts

2015 Bouscaut Blanc – Fresh lemons, lime and grapefruit on the nose, medium bodied, with a refreshing Pomelo finish. – 90 Pts

2015 Brown Blanc – Crisp, bright, fresh citrus, vanilla, stone and a zippy, sweet pomelo finish shine through in this stylish, well-priced, white Bordeaux wine. – 91 Pts

2015 Cantelys Blanc – From equal parts Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, this forward styled, white Bordeaux wine is replete with sweet, fresh, yellow and orange citrus with pomelo both on the nose and in the mouth. – 91 Pts

2015 Carbonnieux Blanc – Lively, bright, ripe citrus notes with a kick of lime, freshness for lift and a sweet, citrus peel and honeysuckle finish. 92 Pts

2015 Les Charmes-Godard – Combine freshness, crisp, bright, just squeezed yellow citrus fruits, honeysuckle and stone notes with the bite of a just squeezed, juicy lemon in the finish and you have a delicious, refreshing, well priced, white Bordeaux wine will be just right on release. The wine was made from a blend of 50% Semillon, 25% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sauvignon Gris. – 89 Pts

2015 Clos des Lunes Lune d’Argent – Fresh, lemon zest and lime in the nose, sweet, vibrant and forward, this is a great, early drinking charmer. 89 – Pts

2015 Clos des Lunes Blanche – Easy drinking white Bordeaux wine with a fresh, just squeezed, citrus character. – 87 Pts

2015 Clos des Lunes Lune d’Or – The top of the line from the trio of dry white wines Olivier Bernard makes from vines planted in Sauternes has loads of rich, sweet, pomelos, lemon peel, and crisp green apple, with a touch of honeysuckle. The palate of vibrant, fresh and refreshing, with a real crisp finish. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. – 92 Pts

2015 Clos Marsalette Blanc – Grapefruit, vanilla and fresh squeezed lemon with a crisp, sweet, ripe, soft, honeysuckle finish – 90 Pts

2015 Cos d’Estournel Blanc – From 75% Sauvignon Blanc, and 25% Semillon, the wine is crisp, fresh, lively and packed with green apples, grapefruit, lemon, lime and sweet honeysuckle. – 90 Pts

2015 Couhins-Lurton Blanc – Fresh grapefruit, lemon peel and green apple, combining sweetness, crisp refreshing acidity and a stony, yellow citrus filled finish. – 91 Pts

2015 Croix de Labrie Blanc – From a blend of 60% Semillon. 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sauvignon Gris, this is the debut vintage for the new Bordeaux Blanc from the team at Croix de Labrie. Honeysuckle and grapefruit in the nose, the wine is deep in color, with a sweet, grapefruit rind sensation in the finish. Drink this on release. 88 Pts

2015 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Bright and lively with an open, grapefruit, lemon zest, green apple and honeysuckle character, this wine is fresh, refreshing and long with a crisp, sweet, citrus-filled finish. – 96 Pts

2015 Dubreuil Chardonnay – Lemon peel, orange and honeysuckle scents open to a fresh, vibrant, blast of lemon, lime and grapefruit, with a lot of character, but not much complexity. – 86 Pts

2015 de Fieuzal Blanc – Lemon, lime, vanilla bean and bright, green apple flavors are enhanced with a zippy acidity in the crisp finish. – 92 Pts

2015 Gazin-Rocquencourt Blanc – From 100% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is bright, crisp and fresh with loads of green apples, lemon peel and pomelo from start to finish. – 90 Pts

2015 Grand Village Blanc – Just squeezed pomelo, honeysuckle, lime and green apple scents are all over the place. The wine is fresh, sweet, lively and easy to drink. – 89 Pts

2015 Grand Village Les Champs Libres – Using 87% Semillon and 13% Sauvignon Blanc, the wine is packed with fresh lemons, minerality, lime, green apple and vanilla bean, there is the right balance between freshness, sugar and richly textured, sweet fruits. – 91 Pts

2015 La Grande Clotte Blanc – With a blast of fresh grapefruit, lemon peel, zippy acidity and easy drinking pleasure at a great price. – 90 Pts

2015 Haut Bergey Blanc – With ample, refreshing lemon, lime and pomelo scents in the perfume, the wine is sweet, fresh and invigorating from start to finish. – 91 Pts

2015 Haut Brion Blanc – A melange of fresh squeezed citrus, flowers, lemon curd, honeysuckle and rocks are right where they need to be. Incredibly fresh, vibrant, lively and richly textured, the bright yellow fruits in the end really stand out. The wine was made from a blend of 69% Sauvignon Blanc and 31% Semillon. The wine reached 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.14. The harvest took place between August 28 and September 7. – 97 Pts

2015 Le Lys de Lafaurie-Peyraguey – The debut vintage for this new wine from Silvio Denz is made from a blend of 89% Semillon and 11% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is exactly what you are looking for, provided you’re seeking a fresh, crisp white Bordeaux wine packed with honeysuckle, lemons, green apple and slightly candied pomelo. Similar to the bottle with the Lalique insert used for their Sauternes, this makes a stunning presentation the table. – 91 Pts

2015 La Louviere Blanc – White peach, orange marmalade and pomelo get your attention rather quickly, but it’s the zippy, fresh lemon peel notes in the finish that stay with you. – 90 Pts

2015 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc – Stone, fresh citrus and bracing acidity, this wine has real concentration of flavor, there is power and length, leaving you with a focused, stony, fresh citrus character which remains in your mouth long after the wine has left your glass. – 98 Pts

2015 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc – Crushed rocks, juicy grapefruit and vanilla with a blast of lemon and lime in the finish, give this wine freshness and sweet, citrus fruits from start to finish. – 93 Pts

2015 Le Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc – Blending 73% Semillon and 27% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine serves up honeysuckle, grapefruit, lemon curd and marmalade. Fresh, lively and crisp, the finish is all about its pomelo and ripe, lemon character. – 92 Pts

2015 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc – Using 100% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine jumps with fresh citrus peel, just squeezed lemon, lemongrass and orange rind. Richly textured and fresh, the wine is loaded with crisp, sweet, yellow citrus in the finish. – 90 Pts

2015 Lespault-Martillac Blanc – Fresh lime and lemon peel with a bit of the waxy Sauvignon Blanc quality, this wine is forward, fresh and ready for early, refreshing, crisp, citrus filled, summer drinking. – 90 Pts

2015 Liber Pater Blanc – Using 100% Semillon, this wine opens with fresh lemon peel, honeysuckle, orange and vanilla notes. The wine is full-bodied, concentrated, richly textured and loaded with minerality along with sweet, fresh, slightly honeyed, yellow and orange citrus fruits. – 93 Pts

2015 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc – Fresh-squeezed pomelo, lemon zest and vanilla start the fragrant aromatics, this long, fresh, clean wine is packed with lively, vanilla, lemon, orange and green apple that really stick with you. Harvested from September 8 to September 15, the wine was produced from a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon. – 94 Pts

2015 Marjosse Blanc – Floral notes, with lemon peel, pomelo and a touch of honeysuckle. Fresh, refreshing, well priced and perfect for a summer seafood meal. 45% Sauvignon Blanc, 45% Semillon and 10% Muscadelle create the blend. 89 Pts

2015 Monbousquet Blanc – Citrus and floral notes, with fresh lemon peel and honeysuckle in a fresh and refreshing style. Made from a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Gris, 5% Semillon and 5% Muscadelle. – 90 Pts

2015 Mouton Rothschild Aile D’Argent Blanc – The blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 43% Semillon and 2%. It was possible to add the Muscadelle because the harvest took place earlier than usual. Waxy grapefruit, lemon peel, vanilla bean and green apple create a wine that is fat, sweet, sassy and fresh. The wine reached 13.5%. – 93 Pts

2015 Nardian – Combining fresh citrus with a hint of tropical fruit and floral notes, the wine is juicy, sweet, fresh and vibrant and should be fun to drink on release. – 90 Pts

2015 Olivier Blanc – Lemon custard, green apple and grapefruit notes are abundant in this crisp, crunchy and fresh wine. Prepare yourself for a racy acidity in the finish. – 92 Pts

2015 Pape Clement Blanc – Vanilla, candied citrus peel, honey, floral, lemon and crushed rocks on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and lush with ample freshness and a green apple, spicy lemon, vanilla, and candied grapefruit finish that is both fresh and refreshing. The wine, which reached 14.82% alcohol, was produced from a blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon, and 10% Sauvignon Gris. Aging will take place in a combination of foudre, concrete egg vats and new, French, oak barrels. – 96 Pts

2015 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux – Floral notes, honeydew, citrus peel, orange marmalade, green apple and lemon wax on the nose. The wine is rich, full bodied, silky and long, with freshness, vibrant energy and a refreshing blast of lemon, lime and tangerine in the honeyed, spicy finish. – 94 Pts

2015 Puygueraud Blanc – Pineapple and grapefruit on the nose, with a honeysuckle, orange and sweet, fresh citrus peel essence. 87 – Pts

2015 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Ripe, vibrant, zesty citrus, honeysuckle and vanilla with a lingering touch of honey and vanilla bean in the finish, this wine leaves an enjoyable, lasting impression. – 95 Pts

2015 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Blanc – Using 80% Sauvignon Blanc along with 20% Semillon, this wine offers lemon curd, succulent grapefruit, honeydew and waxy, citrus rind. It is Juicy, sweet, fresh and ripe and should be delicious upon release. – 91 Pts

2015 Tertre Blanc – Honeyed grapefruit, nuts, flowers, lemon peel and orange marmalade aromatics present a unique profile. Polished, sweet, yet fresh and vibrant, with a dominant citrus character, this is a fun, early drinker that will stump everyone in a blend tasting. From a unique blend of 42% Chardonnay, 31% Gros Manseng, 16% Viognier and 11% Sauvignon Blanc, the wine is vinified in stainless steel and barrel and aged in 100% new, French oak barrels. – 89 Pts

2015 Tronquoy-Lalande Blanc – Made from 60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Gris, the wine is fat, semi-sweet and packed with pomelo, lemon peel, hints of honeysuckle, orange, lime and tangerine with a few drops of honey and bracing acidity. – 90 Pts

2015 Valandraud Blanc de Valandraud – From a blend of 40% Sauvignon Gris, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon, the wine is equally rich, fresh, lively and filled with crisp, yellow citrus fruits, green apple and vanilla bean notes. The wine delivers a fresh blast of pomelo and honeysuckle in the finish. – 92 Pts

If you have any questions or comments, or just want to talk about wine, feel free to post. This is the last of our 2015 Bordeaux tasting notes articles. We will publish a summary on all the best wines as well as other comments on the continuing futures campaign next week.