Chateau La Garde White

A tight and focused white with sliced and crushed apple. Pie tart. Lime. Mineral and aniseed. Complex. Medium body. Nicely done.

A blend of 94% Sauvignon Blanc and 6% Sémillon, the 2022 La Garde Blanc offers up aromas of lemon, lemon oil, verbena, lime tree and menthol. Chiseled and tense, lively and energetic, it has a vibrant spine of acidity and a saline finish. This estate is experiencing a resurgence of interest from its owners, and Pessac-Léognan enthusiasts should observe its evolution in the coming years.

Lively and bright, such intensity of sharp lemon and lime at the beginning, straight but forward and so expressive. Crunchy and crisp, so charming and enjoyable with lift and length and the most lovely saline, mineral aspects towards the finish giving different nuance and complexity. Feels really well made, if only they made more of this. A lovely bitter tang on the finish reminds you it's serious, one of the best whites with such sherbet juiciness, sharp, lively, intense - I love it! Focused and pure. Aged 8 months in oak. Harvest 18 August - 29 August. HVE certified.

The 2022 La Garde Blanc, mostly Sauvignon Blanc, is quite effusive in this vintage. Citrus peel, mint, lime, white flowers and tangerine peel all race out of the glass. There is an exotic feel to the 2022 that is hugely appealing, and also a bit more mid-palate depth than this wine has shown in the past.

Intense varietal character, with juicy green apple and citrus, excellent lift and grip through the palate, touch of candyfloss sweetness reflects the vintage, but this is impressive and mouthwatering. Ageing is split between 14% new oak, 57% one and two year barrels and 29% in wooden and stainless steel vats. Stéphane Derenoncourt consultant since 2017.

Pur, frais, ciselé et expressif, notes agrumes, minéralité, la bouche est grasse, aromatique, énergique et équilibrée. Belle expression de ce terroir qui gagne à être encore plus connu.

I am grateful to Dourthe for contacting me at the last moment, otherwise, I might have overlooked a fancy white wine. Unlike many whites from hot vintages, this wine delivers a crisp nose and refreshing palate. Subtle hints of papaya, white peach, and candied tangerine tantalize the taste buds, leaving behind an unexpectedly vibrant acidity. Compared to the highly regarded 2021 for Bordeaux white, I find Château La Garde 2022 to be just as exceptional.

Bright yellow colour with green hue. Elegan nose with fine citrus fruit, ripe tangerine, grapefruit zest, aromatic herbs and hints of vanilla in the background. On the palate well-balanced with juicy finish and very good length.

Searingly fresh on the nose like few wines in this vintage, with assorted fresh and confit citrus notes – tarte au citron above all. There’s jasmine and honeysuckle, a little gooseberry leaf too. Lithe, tender and tense despite the considerable breadth and amplitude with bright fresh grapefruit acidity cleansing the palate and cutting through all that richness. Very good indeed. This property seems to be on fire right now. Very juicy.