Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc

Bordeaux renderings of Sauvignon Blanc are a world away from the bitingly zippy, citrus-dominated versions you find in New Zealand – or, indeed, the Loire Valley. Here in the Gironde, the grape variety, often blended with the more waxy, savoury Semillon and aged in varying degrees of oak, yields a more rounded, fatter version that lends itself to pairing with relatively robust dishes, rather than serving as an aperitif. The most celebrated bottlings herald from Pessac-Léognan and the Graves, where producers such as Château Smith Haut Lafitte and Domaine de Chevalier have carved out particular reputations for the style. But Bordeaux dry whites are increasingly found right across the region, as many producers look to diversify their output.