2019 white Bordeaux wine can be very good, depending on the terroir and the vigneron. Bordeaux Blanc can be tricky. White wine grapes are not like the red wine grapes. With red wine grape varieties, you have time to pick, you can often wait and there is not usually a rush to pick
White wine grapes are much trickier. You need to harvest them at the right moment to preserve the freshness, else they can quickly turn sweet and flabby, lacking acidities.
Bordeaux vintages are usually rated by the quality of the red wines, which is reasonable, as 90% of the wines produced in the region are red. But it is not that simple. With Bordeaux white wines, often it is the years when the red wines are less successful that the white wines shine.
Even though the white wine grapes are picked before the reds, climatic conditions can often lead to a lack of acidity in the white wine grapes, even though the vintage is strong for the red wines. It can be too warm and dry for the white wines to gain the requisite amount of freshness.
That is not the case with 2019 white Bordeaux wines, fortunately. Even though the 2019 Bordeaux vintage was marked by sunny, dry conditions during the summer, there was ample water in the soils to avoid overripe qualities in the white wine grapes. Much of that came from the two July rain storms that helped add water for the vines.
Along with enough moisture in the soils, it was the cool nights that helped deliver the necessary acidities for the freshness.
Most vignerons were busy harvesting Sauvignon Blanc grapes by late August and by mid-September were picking Semillon in warm, sunny and dry conditions, allowing growers to complete under good, easy to harvest in conditions.
I am a fan of 2019 Bordeaux blanc. It is not perfect vintage for white Bordeaux. I would have preferred even more acidity. Overall, the wines are bright, fresh, crisp and aromatic. You find nuances of yellow citrus fruits, white peach, flowers and green apples. The textures are lush, creamy and the finishes are bright with good refreshing energy.
As you can see from my tasting notes below, there are a lot of dry 2019 white Bordeaux wines to choose from.
The following tasting notes cover all the 2019 Bordeaux white wines I tasted from every appellation. Because the tastings were conducted at home, I had the opportunity to taste a lot more than the usual suspects I normally taste when I am in Bordeaux. All of the following 2019 Bordeaux Blanc wines were tasted in my home office from mid-May until early June in non-blind conditions.
2019 Ad Francos Blanc – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Fresh, juicy, round and creamy with a nice blend of lemon grass, orange peel and honeysuckle that is already quite tasty. 89 Pts
2019 Alto de Cantenac Brown – Bordeaux – Fresh, bright, fruity and focused on its crisp, yellow fruit and green apple character on the nose and palate. Nice lift and creamy textures here. 91 Pts
2019 Bastor-Lamontagne Confidence – Bordeaux – Round, light and fruity with a bright pomelo finish that will be great for uncomplicated summery drinking. 88 Pts
2019 Bastor-Lamontagne Sec – Bordeaux – Bright, crisp, zesty yellow tropical fruits with a hint of nut flavor on the nose and palate, and a round, sweet and bright, citrus finish. 86 Pts
2019 Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemon wax, honeysuckle and flowers, coupled with ripe, juicy citrus taste, smell and feel fresh and lifted. 91 Pts
2019 Bouscaut Les Chenes de Bouscaut – Pessac-Léognan – Juicy, fresh, bright, white Bordeaux wine with a forward yellow citrus charm. 86 Pts
2019 Brown Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pomelo, lemon peel, honeysuckle and assorted tropical orange citrus notes in the nose. Fresh, biting and inviting, with lush, round textures, juicy, creamy yellow citrus and a crisp, sweet, grapefruit and green apple filled finish. 92 Pts
2019 Cantelys Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeydew, orange, white peach and a hint of citrus smell and feel great here. Drink this young for its bright, fresh, clean, crisp citrus. 91 Pts
2019 Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Crisp yellow citrus combined with hints of sweet orange and mango on the nose and palate are a perfect match for all that racy acidity found here. 92 Pts
2019 La Croix de Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, light, forward, easy-drinking citrus and white peach filled wine to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to come around. 85 Pts
2019 Cerons Blanc – Graves – Early drinking citrus filled wine for early drinking consumption. 83 Pts
2019 Chantegrive Cuvee Caroline – Graves – White peach, green apple, vanilla and lemon wax permeate the nose. On the palate, the wine borders between lush and fresh, with a creamy, lemon peel finish. 90 Pts
2019 ChateauOlivier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh-squeezed pomelo, green apples and lemon peel hit the right notes on the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, zippy and zesty, with a shot of sweet, crisp citrus in the finish. 92 Pts
2019 Clauzots Blanc – Graves – Fresh, juicy and crisp, with nice shot of pomelo on those nose and palate, making this a fun, summer pool-side sipper. 86 Pts
2019 Clos des Lunes Lune d’Argent – Bordeaux – Juicy, fresh-squeezed pomelo with a dab of honey, white peach and pear on the nose in the sweet, lusciously textured palate. The acidity here is exactly on point, giving this brilliant lift. 92 Pts
2019 Clos des Lunes Lune d’Or – Bordeaux – The perfect blend of white flowers, honey and lemon are here. The fruit is sweet, ripe and zesty, with loads of citrus in the finish. 93 Pts
2019 Clos Floridène Blanc – Graves – Flowers and yellow citrus with a touch of green apple come forward in this fresh, forward, crisp wine. 87 Pts
2019 Clos Marsalette Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, mango, white peach, orange rind with a background note of vanilla. Creamy, round and lush in texture, the wine balances between sweet, ripe and fresh, with yellow and orange citrus notes in the finish. The wine blends equal parts of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. 92 Pts
2019 Cos d’Estournel Blanc – Bordeaux – Lemon, lime, grapefruit and orange peel pop from the glass. Round, lush, juicy and fresh, with a myriad of ripe, sweet, fleshy citrus notes and a dab of honeysuckle in the finish. The wine was made using 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Semillon. This is the finest white wine yet from Cos d’Estournel. 95 Pts
2019 Les Pagodes de Cos Blanc – Bordeaux – Sweet, juicy, zesty yellow citrus with a touch of mango and white flowers carry through from the nose to the palate, leaving with plenty of round, crisp, citrus zest in the finish. 92 Pts
2019 Couhins – Pessac-Léognan – Bright, lifted citrus, green apple and a hint of yellow tropical fruit really pops here. On the palate, it gets even better with all that fresh-squeezed yellow citrus fruit. 92 Pts
2019 Couhins-Lurton Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Bright pomelo, flowers, vanilla and green apple aromas smell great! Fresh and lively on the palate with a crisp, sweet, juicy yellow citrus finish is what you will find here. 91 Pts
2019 Cruzeau Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Sweet yellow citrus in an early drinking style, makes this a nice, lemony, summer, pool side quaffer. 87 Pts
2019 dAiguilhe Blanc – Bordeaux – Bright, fresh, crisp, energetic, citrus filled wine that provides lift, energy along with a beautiful citrus and green apple filled finish with a dollop of honey to sweeten the pot. 92 Pts
2019 de Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – An orchard of white peach, flowers and honeysuckle create the nose. On the palate the wine is the right blend of lush, fresh and sweet, with ample lift and length and waxy fruit in the endnote. 92 Pts
2019 de France Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, bright, sweet, yellow citrus with notes of mango and tangerine blend together to create a juicy, sweet and fresh flavor. 90 Pts
2019 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh pomelo, newly squeezed lemons, honeysuckle and an intriguing orange tropical note with mangos and white peach. On the mouth, the wine pops with its freshness, zest and energetic fruit. Lemon, lime, vanilla, rocks and stones. This future rockstar will age for decades, getting better and better. But this is tasty now, I drank it at 9 in the morning! The wine was made from blending 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon. 97 Pts
2019 Domaine de la Solitude Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, bright yellow citrus fruits combined with white peach are at work here. Lively and fresh, with a sweet lemon and green apple finish, this going to be ready to go on release. 91 Pts
2019 Guiraud ‘G’ Sec – Bordeaux – Combining bright grapefruit and orange peel with hints of vanilla bean in the nose, the wine is fresh, lifted, oily and long on the palate, with a generous serving of more of that orange peel and pomelo in the finish. 92 Pts
2019 Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Squeeze white peaches over crushed rocks, add flowers and yellow citrus and you have the recipe for the perfume here. The unique combination of luscious fruits and bracing acidities hits the spot. The endnote with all of its sweet, perfectly ripe lemons with an intriguing hint of mango goes on and on. The wine blends 64% Sauvignon Blanc with 36% Semillon, reaching 13.9% alcohol. 98 Pts
2019 Le Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, lemon, lime, green apple, honeysuckle, white peach and vanilla scents can be found with no effort on the nose and palate. Lush, round and fruity, with freshness, sweetness and lift, this is just great to drink already. In fact, I finished the bottle off with grilled seafood a few hours after penning this note! The wine blends 52% Sauvignon Blanc with 48% Semillon reaching 13.5% alcohol. 93 Pts
2019 Haut-Lagrange Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pomelo and white peach with a splash of green apple in the nose get the wine going. On the palate, the wine is fresh, juicy, ripe and sweet, with a vigorous, zesty, sweet, lemon finish. This should be delicious on release. 90 Pts
2019 Hostens Picant Cuvée des Demoiselles – Sainte Foy Bordeaux – White peach and green apples pop with freshness and a sweet, yellow citrus peel finish. This will be best in its refreshing youth. 88 Pts 88 Pts
2019 Hubert de Boüard Le Chardonnay – Vin de France – Crisp, sweet, fresh, yellow citrus with a nice pear and vanilla accent. Sweet and fruity, this is a perfect by the pool summer wine. 88 Pts
2019 Hubert de Boüard Le Sémillon – Bordeaux – A blast of honeysuckle, white peach and tropical fruits can be found on the nose and palate. Round and creamy with a fresh and fruity finish. 87 Pts
2019 La Garde Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Tangy, zesty and fresh with a bright, waxy lemon and grapefruit core of fruit on the nose and palate finishes nicely with an additional complexity of pineapple and orange zest. 91 Pts
2019 La Grande Clotte Blanc – Bordeaux – Vivacious, fresh, yellow citrus fruits with a touch of honey, flowers and nuts on the nose and round, lush, fruity palate. This is ready to go and provides a lot of bang for the buck! 91 Pts
2019 La Laurence Petite Laurence – Bordeaux Supérieur – Floral, with bright yellow fruits, pears and a lemon chiffon filled palate. Fresh, sweet and easy-going white Bordeaux wine. 88 Pts 89 Pts
2019 La Laurence Petite Laurence Blanc – Bordeaux Supérieur – Light, fresh, zesty, citrus-filled wine for early, uncomplicated, summer drinking. 88 Pts
2019 La Louviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Crisp green apples, lemon, lime, flowers and orange peel smell just great. On the palate, the wine pops with freshness, lifted yellow citrus, creamy textures and hints of honey and tangerine in the finish. 92 Pts
2019 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – The sting of all that crushed rock, grapefruit, honeysuckle, white peach, lemon oil and star anise makes you take a step back and go for it again. Sapid in nature, the wine is rich, concentrated, juicy and mouth-filling with a crisp, zesty, sweet finish that does not quit. The wine is a blend of 7% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. It is interesting to note that this is the first vintage of LMHB where the Semillon was picked before the Sauvignon. 99 Pts
2019 La Riviere Blanc – Bordeaux – Light in color, better in the nose with its pomelo accents than on the palate, the wine is light in flavor and should be consumed over the next 1-3 years. 84 Pts
2019 La Tour Carnet Blanc – Bordeaux – Light in color, the lemon, lime vanilla is fun to nose. On the palate, the wine is sweet, filled with honeysuckle, candied grapefruit and lemon peel. The wine was made from blending 60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc. 91 Pts
2019 Lagrave Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Light, fresh and easy-drinking, bright citrus and lemon filled wine for early drinking. 87 Pts
2019 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Floral in nature, this is all made better with all the sweet, ripe, yellow citrus lemon peel, white peach and honeysuckle in the perfume. The silky, round, lush palate with all the vanilla, vivacious green apple, lemon and crushed stone taste and feels great. 93 Pts
2019 La-Tour-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle and just-squeezed yellow citrus hits the spot in the nose. The palate is loaded with sweet, juicy grapefruit, orange rind and waxy lemon, with a dab of honey to sweeten things up and acidity to keep it all fresh. 93 Pts
2019 Laurence Blanc – Entre-Deux-Mers – Fresh, bright and invigorating with strong essences of honeysuckle, mango, Mandarin orange, vanilla and grapefruit. The wine is bright, crisp and racy. From 100% Sauvignon Blanc and aged in 100% new, French oak, the wine is a recent venture from Hubert de Bouard and Philippe Nunez. Drink this young for its energetic freshness. 90 Pts
2019 Lesparre Blanc – Graves – Light summer quaffer with a focus on its core of yellow citrus notes. Drink this over the next year or two. 84 Pts
2019 Lespault-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, orange blossom, white peach, pear and citrus rind are all over the place in this delicious, fresh, refreshing, lush, ready-to-go white Bordeaux wine. 92 Pts 92 Pts
2019 MagrezFombrauge Blanc – Bordeaux – White peach, honeysuckle and mango with vanilla scents create the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, bright and crisp, focusing on its yellow citrus and lemon curd, crisp, bright endnote. The wine is an interesting blend of 40% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Sauvignon Gris. 92 Pts
2019 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – The honeysuckle, just-squeezed lemons, green apple and pears on the nose are just perfect. On the palate, the juicy, ripe, creamy, fresh citrus fruits, with their sweetness keep on going, due to all that racy acidity. This should age quite well. 95 Pts
2019 Malartic-Lagravière La Réserve de Malartic Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Beautifully ripe yellow citrus and Granny Smith apples with floral accents really allows this to come alive in this second wine. There is good lift and a bright bite of juicy citrus in the finish. This is a very nice second wine. 90 Pts
2019 Mongiron Blanc – Bordeaux – Grapefruit and yellow bright tropical fruits are on the nose and forward, sweet and fresh palate. 86 Pts
2019 Mongiron Prior Du Château Mongiron – Bordeaux – Honeyed citrus and crisp, fresh pineapple with hints of white peach with a creamy texture and fresh, yellow fruits in the finish. 89 Pts
2019 Mouton Rothschild Aile D’Argent Blanc – Bordeaux – Bright, crisp and with screaming fresh acidities, you start off with flowers, lemon, lime and tropical orange scents. Sweet pure and with creamy textures and a zesty mouthfeel, this a gorgeous white Bordeaux wine that will drink well young, and age well too. The wine is a blend of 61% Sauvignon Blanc, 38% Semillon and 1% Muscadelle. 95 Pts
2019 Nardian Blanc – Bordeaux – Floral and citrus notes along with honeysuckle and vanilla on the front end with juicy, fresh, yellow citrus on the backend make for a good combination here. 92 Pts
2019 Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Opening with strong notes of white peach, assorted notes of orange and yellow tropical fruits and honeysuckle, with a hint of candied grapefruit peel. Fresh, sweet, crisp and long, with loads of waxy, sweet, juicy yellow citrus blended with tangerines. The wine was made from 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon. 96 Pts
2019 Paveil de Luze Blanc – Bordeaux – Fresh, bright, juicy and packed with lifted citrus, green apple, vanilla, flowers and pomelo on the nose and palate. The wine has a zesty, crisp personality that can be enjoyed on release. 90 Pts
2019 Penin Blanc – Bordeaux – Grapefruit, green apple and honeydew melon filled wine for easy, uncomplicated, summer drinking pleasure. 84 Pts
2019 Peyredon Lagravette Chardonneret – Bordeaux – Light, bright, sweet and juicy with a lifted, waxy, lemon character. 87 Pts
2019 Plain-Point – Vin de France – Lemon way and orange rind on the nose with a juicy, blast of ripe, sweet, zesty yellow citrus in the finish. This is quite nice and already fun to pair with grilled seafood in the backyard. The wine is an interesting blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Gros Manseng. 89 Pts
2019 Reignac Blanc – Bordeaux – Sweet yellow citrus notes with hints of green apple that is best for early drinking consumption. 83 Pts
2019 Reynon Blanc – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Yellow citrus and green apple notes on the nose and palate in this easy drinking, summer white wine. Drink this on the young side. 85 Pts
2019 Rochemorin Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – A shot of lemon, lime and green apples hits you as soon as you nose the glass. Fresh, bright and lifted with a sweet, yellow citrus note in the finish really works well here. 91 Pts
2019 Sainte Marie Blanc Vieilles Vignes – Entre-Deux-Mers – Fun, fresh and fruity with a lemon chiffon character and a creamy, soft finish for early drinking pleasure. 87 Pts
2019 Saint-Robert Blanc – Graves – Honeysuckle, orange peel and lemon wax aromas come on nicely. But here, the nose is a bit better than the lush, fruity, citrusy palate. 88 Pts
2019 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Walk into a flower garden and squeeze lemons, grapefruit and white peach all over everything, with honeydew melon and you get an idea of the nose here. Great lift, vibrancy, elegance and mouth-feel, with length, purity and freshness. This is the best white wine from Smith Haut Lafitte in a few years! The wine was produced from a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon. 97 Pts
2019 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Juicy, sweet, fresh, ripe, bright, crisp citrus, orange rind and white flowers from start to finish. Pop this and pair it with grilled seafood this summer. 91 Pts
2019 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Grapefruit, green apple, honeysuckle, mango, banana and a touch of vanilla make a beautiful nose. Lush, fresh, juicy and with sweet yellow fruits and white flowers in the mouth. This is a serious white Bordeaux that sells for a song. The wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 92 Pts
2019 Suduiraut “S” de Suduiraut – Bordeaux – Right off the bat you find green apples, flowers, vanilla and lemon/lime notes on the nose. Rich, juicy and fresh, with a bite of just squeezed yellow citrus and pineapple, the wine is fresh and refreshing on the palate and in the finish. The wine is a blend of 63% Semillon and 37% Sauvignon Blanc. 92 Pts
2019 Tertre Blanc – Vin de France – Flower and honeysuckle aromatics with pomelo, mango, white peach and banana notes are just great here. On the palate, the wine is juicy, creamy and lifted. It is the combination of ripe fruits, cracked pepper, sweetness and blazing acidity that make everything work here. The unique blend is made from 30% Gros Manseng, 28% Chardonnay, 27% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Viognier. The wine was vinified in stainless steel and barrel and aged in 100% new, French oak barrels. 92 Pts
2019 Vignobles Chevalier et Fils Premium Haut L’Abeille – Bordeaux – A nice, simple, easy-going, citrusy filled, summer sipper. 85 Pts
2019 Blanc de Valandraud – Bordeaux – Here you find the prefect mix of rich, creamy-textured, yellow citrus with hints of orange tropical fruits, bright green apple and flowers. Even with all this concentration, there is also a light touch of honeyed sweetness and a blast of racy acidity to keep everything on its toes. 95 Pts
2019 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc – Bordeaux – White peach, pomelo, green apple and lemon rind work in harmony due to the ripe, sweetness of the fruits, round textures and the fresh acidity on the backend. This is a very good white Bordeaux wine. 92 Pts
Tomorrow, we are set to publish our 2019 Bordeaux Superieur report. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post.
