As it turns out, Bordeaux is home to some of my favorite wines.
A week before leaving for France, I had a mental breakdown. I felt like a total imposter. I could feel parts of my French language skills slipping away, I felt alone and uninspired, I was going through a phase of burnout, and I didn’t know where my page was heading. Since coming back full force on the blog and my Instagram page from my impromptu break last fall, something has felt off. I didn’t know how to fix it, and I was nervous about coming back to France in such a state – much less to a wine region that I hadn’t been to in a decade. To make things more complicated, I’ve historically never been a fan of the wines from Bordeaux. I’m not a Robert Parker-style hoo-ra-ra big, bold red type of gal (indeed this is one of my main frustrations with the American wine scene as a whole), so Bordeaux was never on my radar. Before going to the region, I even asked friends of mine, “What’s going on in Bordeaux? What are you drinking? Who is making waves?” And I was met by almost total and complete silence. Somehow, nobody I was close with was reaching for Bordeaux. Generations and trends change. As a result, I had few expectations going into this trip and kept a very open mind. The region, it turns out, is pure magic – arguably more so than any other I have visited in the last six years I’ve worked on French Wine Tutor. I don’t know if it’s the sun, the city’s proximity to the beach, or what, but the general vibe of Bordeaux is simply: joie de vivre.
I leaned into it. I let it overtake me. I had long, busy days but I filled them with lengthy drives in the sun with the windows rolled down, unmapped bike rides through random vineyards, five-hour dinners with friends I hadn’t seen in years, and getting all turned around on foot in storied villages like Sauternes and Saint-Emilion. It was the respite I needed and it gave me the creative reset I’ve been craving. Read on for this month’s wine reviews – from Bordeaux to New York and beyond.
WINE #1: Menetou-Salon, Domaine de Champarlan, 2023 (15.5/20, Astor Wines)
Where I had it: At home with my husband for date night. It finally got warm enough to eat a meal in our backyard, so we made the most of it. June weather in NYC was bonkers! One day: 100 degrees. The next: 60 degrees. You never know what you’re going to get nowadays.
How much a bottle cost me: $0. This was a sample I received as part of a partnership with the Vins du Centre Loire.
How much a bottle would cost you: $27. This is a STEAL for the quality that you’re getting in this bottle! Just goes to show you that the wines from this little subregion in the Centre Loire still offer incredibly good value!
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 15.5/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – If I could pair this wine with a piece of music, it would be P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) by Michael Jackson. It’s all citrus and wet stone and soft – while still managing that straight-edge I love so much in the wines from the Centre Loire. Buy a couple bottles and you won’t be disappointed – especially if you’re throwing a party in the summer.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – Really just outstanding with food, which should come as no surprise. We had a little smorgasbord of apéro-inspired plates, like bruschetta, a spinach strawberry salad, and of course, a plateau de fromage. It was excellent with all of them but I gotta say the spinach strawberry combo was a real treat.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – Like I said, $27 is a steal for the beautiful quality of wine you get in this bottle. Menetou-Salon remains a massively underrated appellation. Its next-door neighbor, Sancerre, gets all the glory, but the value is always in Menetou-Salon. Go get a bottle already!
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 2.5/5 – This winery practices lutte raisonnée, but apart from that I couldn’t find much information about their environmental or social responsibility commitments. They get points for that and for remaining small and family-owned, but I would love to see some more work on sustainability at large for this score to improve.
WINE #2: La Grande Dame, Champagne, Veuve Clicquot 2018 (14.5/20, Wine.com)
Where I had it: At Decanter’s Fine Wine Encounter masterclass tasting, The Art of Aging: A Journey with La Grande Dame.
How much a glass cost me: $0. I was offered a ticket to attend this masterclass for free – and I’m so grateful because it isn’t quite the masterclass I’d normally go for. More on that below.
How much a bottle would cost you: $200. Phew. If the prices in Champagne keep going up like this, they’re going to have a couple decades of Champagne-bashing on their hands. I don’t mind paying a premium for an excellent bottle of wine, but I’m not entirely sure this price makes sense from a large house.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 14.5/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – I have a weird history with Veuve Clicquot. For the longest time, their entry-level cuvées were served at nearly every corporate happy hour I went to in the early days of my career and I was never yellow label’s biggest fan. But I’d never before tried La Grande Dame. It is a completely different ball game. Not even reminiscent for me of yellow label – in the best way. Soft, tamed bubbles. Mineral-driven acidity. Layers of notes like bright summer lemon, light butter like the first bite of a croissant, and even a tertiary aroma at the end of golden raisin confit. It’s an exceptional wine that I clearly need to return to. We tasted quite a few vintages of La Grande Dame during the masterclass, but this one was my favorite. The freshness and the elegance combined made it stand above the rest.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – As I enjoyed this wine in a masterclass setting, I didn’t pair this wine directly with food but I have no doubt it would pair with almost everything on the table – from appetizers to a light dessert. Many years ago, someone told me that a good Champagne really can pair with everything at a meal and it’s something that’s proved true time and time again.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 2.5/5 – There are some Champagnes out there that really do merit a $200 price tag. Is this wine one of them? The jury is still out. It is a lovely Champagne, but if I was in charge of pricing, I’d probably cap it at $125.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 3/5 – Veuve Clicquot practices lutte raisonnée. While I would like to see them go much farther, I also understand it is difficult to do so given their size and reliance on fruit from multiple growers. They have an additional sustainability certification in Champagne, which is appreciated, too. But if they want to be seen as true leaders in the region among the trade, we’re going to need to see some more commitment here.
WINE #3: L’argile, Collioure, Domaine de la Rectorie, 2023 (16/20, iDealWine)
Where I had it: On my little patio in Paris one night after a long day of content creation with friends.
How much a bottle cost me (and would cost you): $27. (Or rather, 27€ for me!) You can find a few different vintages of this bottle stateside, or the 2023 on iDealWine.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 16/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – When it comes to the perfect white wine for a summer apéro, the Loire gets all the glory – but don’t sleep on wines from the south. (Little did I know, that sentence would come to define my entire stay in Bordeaux – but I’m getting ahead of myself.) This is a solid white wine with a captivating combination of freshness, depth, and persistence. Think pears, apricot, and a mineral-driven edge.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – I paired this with some Vietnamese takeout and absolutely loved it (don’t sleep on Vietnamese cuisine the next time you are in Paris – there are some amazing restaurants like Chi’s Vietfood that I love!). It strikes the right balance with fresh summer rolls, stew, and even the coconut-lime pudding I had for dessert. Yum.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – Great price for this wine stateside! I just wish it were a bit better distributed, but this is always the problem with those underrated gems. Here’s hoping an importer reads this and changes that!
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4/5 – When you read about Domaine de la Rectorie, one thing stands out: care for the environment and the human beings that work the land. There is a beautiful sense of solidarity and care for each other baked into all their communications. From an environmental perspective, they are passionate about using native grape varieties, planting vines in specific micro-plots that are less susceptible to drought, and – perhaps most importantly – are in the middle of a conversion to biodynamics. No easy feat in a rugged, unrelenting landscape like the Roussillon. This is a producer to watch.
WINE #4: “Les Cinq Parcelles”, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Château Grangey, 2020 (16/20, Oenocar)
Where I had it: At a tour and tasting with Bordeaux Wine Trails in Saint-Emilion.
How much a glass cost me: $0. The cost of two tastings is included when you book a tour with Bordeaux Wine Trails.
How much a bottle would cost you: $40. I wasn’t able to find this exact vintage available stateside but it looks like there is an international wine broker of sorts (Oenocar) that has the 2019 vintage at the moment for sale online.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE:
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – This was the first bottle I purchased in Bordeaux and I’m happily saving it for the perfect moment. A soft, elegant red wine with a captivating combination of herbaceous notes (thanks, Cabernet Franc!) and bright red fruit. The mouthfeel is what won me over, though. It’s decadent, luxurious, and begging for another sip. As the name might suggest, this wine is a blend from the five parcels at Château Grangey. The result is the house’s best-integrated cuvée.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – The first thing that comes to mind? Handmade pasta with a red bell pepper sauce. I’m drawn to the pepper because I can feel the green bell pepper from the Cabernet Franc shining through. Yet, I don’t doubt that it could pair with a wide variety of flavors. That silky mouthfeel can do nothing but add to a good dish.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – This is a great price for a solid wine from Saint-Emilion. Really lovely and well-worth the cost. Unfortunate that not many retailers carry it stateside, though. I’ll be on the lookout to hope that changes soon.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 3/5 – The winery practices lutte raisonnée but sustainability was not a major topic of discussion during my visit. I think more can be done here, but I also get the sense that the owners want to do more. It’s a step in the right direction.
WINE #5: Bordeaux Blanc, Maison Fleur Cardinale, 2023 (19/20)
Where I had it: At a private tasting with Caroline Decoster, who runs the estate with her husband. They’re the second generation in the family to do so and they’re not afraid to try new things. (I’ll be writing up so much more about this visit, so stay tuned!)
How much a glass cost me: $0.
How much a bottle would cost you: It looks like it’ll shake out to $30-40. This is definitely a white wine you will want to keep in the back of your mind.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 19/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – I absolutely adore this wine. It was one of the best white wines I had in Bordeaux – bar none. It can compete blind with some of the best Sancerres around. And it makes sense – Caroline is from the Loire and holds a particular fondness for those styles of Sauvignon Blanc (who doesn’t?1), so it was her aim to create a white wine from Bordeaux that could compete. No small thing – but it succeeds marvelously. There is tension here between saline notes from Bordeaux’s maritime terroir and a fresh green-ness from the forest a few feet from the vines. It’s 43% Sauvignon Gris, which gives it a unique, herbaceous texture.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – As you probably know by now, I am a white wine fanatic and as a pescatarian, I fully believe a white wine will pair with basically anything I would eat. What comes to mind here is a fresh spinach salad, a goat cheese platter, shrimp scampi, or even whole roasted branzino. The sky is the limit with this wine.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – At the moment, this wine is not available stateside BUT before you turn completely off, I’ll give you the inside scoop: it will soon be available at Total Wine. Just a matter of getting the bottles physically across the ocean, by the sound of it.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 5/5 – La Maison Cardinale in Saint-Emilion is doing everything right. They are now fully certified organic in addition to HVE. Their absolutely breathtaking property is complete with rows and rows of trees, hedges, and cover crops interspersed within the vines. It’s an exciting time for the house and the energy is palpable. Caroline and Ludovic have big plans and endless ambition. This is just the start.
WINE #6: Intuition de Fleur Cardinale, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Château Fleur Cardinale, 2019 (18/20, Wine Library)
Where I had it: At that same private tasting with Caroline Decoster.
How much a glass cost me: $0.
How much a bottle would cost you: $34. This is an insane price for the quality of wine you’re getting in this bottle. If you can swing it, buy at least half a case.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 18/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – Very elegant. Unlike some wines I tasted from Saint-Emilion, the tannins are very well-integrated and the finish is long. The palate dances with blackcurrant jam and black pepper. As Caroline said, it’s like a rock song. Jam out to U2 while you’re drinking this one for a fully integrated experience.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – This would be epic with charcuterie but could also pair equally well with a dark chocolate dessert. Maybe not the best option for the summer, but on a chilly fall night it would be exquisite with a red-sauce pasta.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – I did a double take when I saw the price on Wine Library. Ridiculous value for money here and I can’t even begin to imagine how well it will age. Go get some!
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 5/5 – The same as the previous wine – for full notes, see above!
WINE #7: Pauillac, Château Haut-Bages Liberal, 2000 (19/20, WineBid)
Where I had it: At a private tasting at the Château.
How much a glass cost me: $0.
How much a bottle would cost you: $70. Now that is a bargain. More why below!
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 19/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – Years ago, a friend of mine told me that my opinion on Bordeaux reds would change significantly if I only tried vintages that were over 20 years old. At first, I scoffed at him – but he was right. There is magic as Bordeaux ages and my time in the region was clearly punctuated by this discovery. What a stunning wine. Forest floor and ripe dark cherry and a warm dark-roasted mocha are all present and ever evolving. My first note? “Wow, it just keeps going.” And boy, does it ever. One of the best wines I had in Bordeaux.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – Because of its complexity and long finish, I don’t think this wine will pair with everything. That being said, I think it could be perfect with coffee-rubbed grilled beef, a dark-roast tiramisu, a deep chocolate torte, and so much more. Now I’m going to have to buy a few bottles just to test things out for sure.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – I don’t know why people are not buying these aged Bordeaux wines but my God so many of them are at an insane bargain. I’m about to go hunting just for the more mature vintages I’ve reviewed in this post and I know for a fact I will not be disappointed. WineBid’s auction for this wine currently starts at $70, so while it could go up, that starting cost is exceptional. Bid on it (or maybe don’t… so I can have it for myself!).
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 5/5 – Château Haut-Bages Libéral is a real pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture in Pauillac. They were among the first to go all-in for these certifications and they’re still adding layers onto their approach to make the winery as sustainable and ecologically sound as possible. They are today the largest certified biodynamic vineyard in Bordeaux. All their holdings and projects (which include Château Durfort Vivens, Château Ferriere, and Château La Gurgue) have been certified organic since 2012.
WINE #8: “Petit Guiraud”, Sauternes, Château Guiraud, 2022 (18/20, Vine Republic)
Where I had it: At a tasting at the winery following a bike tour in the vines. It’s a leisurely 2-hour tour that you do completely on your own (so not with a group or even a guide). Château Guiraud has an app you download on your phone that geolocates you, maps your journey as you ride, and explains various parts of the vineyard, the town of Sauternes, and the geography of the region. It was a fun, leisurely morning that I cannot recommend enough.
How much a glass cost me: $0. A tasting is included when you book the bike tour.
How much a bottle would cost you: $20. That is a great price for a wine from this estate!
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 18/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – I am not a sweet wine aficionado by any means. In general, I tend to stay away from dessert wines, but there is something special in this one. Beautifully balanced and not cloyingly sweet. Notes of candied raisins and peaches are balanced with sparkling acidity and wet stone. I loved this wine on its own but I also think it would be impeccable in a spritz or a cocktail (and Château Guiraud agrees – they created a free cocktail recipe guide!).
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – This wine would go well with anything slightly spicy as the sweetness will easily balance it out. I’m thinking my husband’s Cali tacos, spicy barbecued shrimp, or even a green Thai curry with a bit of a kick. It won’t go with everything but man the things it does pair with will be stellar – hence that 4/5 score!
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – $20 for a top Sauternes, are you joking?! It’s not the “premier vin” but who exactly is drinking Sauternes with 100+ grams of residual sugar these days?! Not I. As noted, this is a much lighter, fresher Sauternes that goes great in a cocktail or alone as an apéritif before your next summer party, and the fact it comes from Château Guiraud means this price is kind of unbelievable. Grab a bottle and don’t look back!
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 5/5 – Château Guiraud’s environmental commitments are among the best in Bordeaux and certainly the best in Sauternes. They were the first ranked château in the region to go biodynamic in the 2010s and since then, they’ve built on their passion for it by creating a diverse ecosystem of insects, plants, flowers, and trees throughout the property. The result is a magnificent thing to behold and something I wish more of the big houses would take note of and adopt. Bravo, Guiraud. No notes.
WINE #9: “Lilium”, Barsac, Château Climens, 2022 (17.5/20)
Where I had it: At a private tasting with Jérôme Moitry, the Managing Director of Château Climens.
How much a glass cost me: $0.
How much a bottle would cost you: This exact vintage is not available stateside yet, but it looks like it will retail for around $65 once it makes it in.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 17.5/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – If you would have told me a few years ago that some of my favorite white wines from Bordeaux would be 100% Sémillon from a 1st growth house that used to specialize in sweet wines, I would have thought you bonkers. But Château Climens is a special place in the middle of a revolution and the wines made there are all exceptional. Lilium is a true grand vin blanc sec that is layered, complex, and aromatic. Notes of white flowers greet you on the nose and are complimented by minerality, white pepper, fennel, a little chamomile, and a touch of citrus on the palate. A beautiful wine I hope to return to again and again.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – All that complexity might prove tricky to pair, but a good, complex main course of fish or chicken will be delightful with this wine.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 3.5/5 – The prices on the wines I’ve tasted this month are over-the-top! I love complex white wines (arguably more than reds these days) but I am not sure $65-70 makes sense here for a wine that features a grape we don’t know too well stateside. I could see $55 working but too much more feels like a bit of a stretch.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 5/5 – Organic, biodynamic, small and family-owned. I was lucky enough to even see the room where the biodynamic preparations were being dried – and oh my my, what a glorious and beautiful perfume. Great care is taken in every step of the process. Biodiversity in the vineyard is paramount. This is one of those wineries where you can truly taste the effects of biodynamics in every sip (that chamomile – wow).
WINE #10: “Le Comte de Malartic” Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Château Malartic-Lagravière, 2020 (17.5/20, Millesima)
Where I had it: At a private tasting with Véronique Bonnie, the President of the house. I’ve been lucky enough to meet Véronique a few times and have always loved and appreciated her vibrant energy and warmth. I now call her a friend.
How much a glass cost me: $0.
How much a bottle would cost you: $25.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 17.5/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – What a pretty little wine this is! Super aromatic with notes of mango, banana, and even pineapple. It’s fun, fresh, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. I could see this being super refreshing at a BBQ when it’s 100 degrees.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – My mind immediately goes to oysters and grilled shrimp, but a wide variety of lighter summer fare could certainly work here easily.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – At the moment, this wine is not available in the U.S. but should be arriving to shores soon. You can buy a case on Millesima, but the cost of the individual bottle shakes out to $25. Pretty good for a fun, easy summer wine that’s great with anything, anyone, anywhere.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4.5/5 – Like so many great houses in Bordeaux, there is a clear and sustained ecological commitment at Château Malartic-Lagravière that stretches back to the 90s. Today, the property is home to over 500 trees, 10,000 hedges, and dozens of animals (including goats, chickens, sheep, and horses). The winery is run almost entirely by gravity to minimize needless energy output. Certified HVE 3, they are also members of various social responsibility initiatives within the region. There is so much to love about everything they are doing and I have no doubt their approach will continue to evolve as the years pass.
WINE #11: Pessac-Léognan Blanc, Château Malartic-Lagravière, 2021 (18/20, Saratoga Wine Exchange)
Where I had it: At that same private tasting with Véronique Bonnie, the President of the house.
How much a glass cost me: $0.
How much a bottle would cost you: $80. It’s a high price point when the competition for it even within France is arguably half that cost, but it is a very good bottle of white wine.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 18/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – One of my favorite white wines from Bordeaux. Long, complex – less expressive than its little sister, “Le Comte de Malartic”, but more refined and elegant. Mineral-driven, with notes of just ripe lemon and green apple. A beautiful wine that I’d open for just about anything.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – Due to that mineral edge and the softness of the aromas, this wine is very food-friendly. I didn’t have it at a meal with food (sadly!) but I have no doubt it would be excellent with a wide variety of dishes. Pair it with like (light appetizers, fresh veggies, or cheeses) and you’ll get complementary flavors. Pair it with the opposite (roasted chicken or fish in a cream sauce) and the acid will cut right through it for a balanced mouth-feel. You can’t go wrong with this one.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 3.5/5 – $80 is steep for a white wine from Bordeaux. Granted, it’s a delicious white wine and my new favorite, but it’s still on the pricey side so it loses half a point here. Bring it down to even $60 and I could see it making a little more sense.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4.5/5 – The same as the previous wine – for full notes, see above!
WINE #12: Saint-Julien, Château Lagrange, 1990 (16.5/20, WineBid)
Where I had it: At a dinner with the winemaker on my trip to Bordeaux. It was the conclusion of a beautiful day on property that included a personalized blending workshop, an incredible lunch by the lake with live piano music, and some of the best conversation I’ve ever had with top Anglophone journalists around the world. I had to pinch myself – an invite to the table alone was a privilege I will always be grateful for.
How much a glass cost me: $0.
How much a bottle would cost you: $135.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 16/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – For many at the table, this wine didn’t compare to the 1959 vintage we tasted right after this one. But that’s the thing about wine – every palate is different. This was my favorite wine of the night. It was spiced like old leather and my father’s cologne. It was like wearing a velvet blanket that wraps you up in muted blackberry and dried violet flowers. Soft and warm, you take a sip and forget what’s happening in this chaotic world we share. A respite from the woe. This wine is peaking now. Buy it and drink it – at the right occasion.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – Excellent timing with the cheese plate at the end of the meal. This was beautiful with aged comté and even a few older goat cheeses on the table. Due to its age and floral notes, I’m not sure this would pair with a full meal, but it could certainly complement a main course like duck or dry-aged beef. The comté is really what made it sing, though.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – For an aged Bordeaux from a third growth drinking this well, $135 is not bad by a long shot (particularly when you consider the prices of some of the Champagnes I’ve reviewed on this post!).
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 3.5/5 – My experience at Château Lagrange was captivating, but I do still hold them accountable to a very high standard of sustainability. The house does not use herbicides, uses sheep to graze the fields, is working on enhancing biodiversity in the vines with beehives and bird boxes, and uses solar panels as a key energy source. It’s a valiant effort, and change at a large house is slow. I hope to see this environmental commitment continue in the coming years and can’t wait to see what they do next.
WINE #13: Grand Siècle, Itération No. 26, Champagne, Laurent-Perrier (16.5/20, Wine.com)
Where I had it: At an intimate, women-led media dinner in NYC at Café Boulud on the Upper East Side. The room was full of incredible women I admire from around the wine & spirits influencing world, like Natalie Migliarini of @beautifulbooze and Nicole Muscari of @grapechic. The warmth and vibrance of the room contributed to a very special evening I’m so grateful to have been a part of.
How much a glass cost me: $0.
How much a bottle would cost you: $250. Woof. Let me preface this by saying that I don’t typically ask for the prices of the wines I taste when I taste them. I don’t like for it to color my experience of a wine until after I’ve formed my opinions. I knew this wine was part of the house’s prestige cuvées, thus fetching a higher price, but I do worry that pricing in Champagne has really gotten out of hand.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 16.5/20. I wish I could give it a higher score as it is an absolutely stunning Champagne but my “wallet-ability” section is a part of these reviews for a reason.
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4.5/5 – This wine is arguably why Laurent-Perrier has a reputation today as being among one of the great Champagne houses of our time. Spoken of with reverence across the industry and admired by consumers from here to Mumbai, it is – bar none – a stunner. It’s soft, supple, round, and even silky in the mouth. Comforting notes of roasted hazelnut and almond are complemented with bright citrus. It’s a beautiful Champagne, no question.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – A Champagne this good could probably pair with just about anything, but on that particular evening, it was stunning with caviar crème fraîche blinis and a spring asparagus risotto. You’d struggle to find a pairing that wouldn’t work here (maybe dessert? But even then, thinking a lemon tart probably wouldn’t be too far off…).
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 3/5 – Yes, good wine – great wine – should fetch a higher price. It’s a crowded marketplace and in 2025, it’s an unstable one. That being said, this is the most expensive wine I’ve reviewed to date – even putting to shame that aged 3ème grand cru from Château Lagrange, which you can get for half this cost. It is worth a higher price for sure. Is it worth $250? I’m not quite sure. I do feel there is more value here than there was with the other captivating Champagne I reviewed this month, but I would love to see prices come down so it is more accessible.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4/5 – Laurent-Perrier is aware of the fact that it is a leader in the industry – and is acting like it. The house has multiple sustainability certifications under their belt (HVE, SVC) but doesn’t stop there. They are also adding biodiversity in their vineyards with other plants, and have taken many steps to reduce waste in their production process. The house also partners with various environmental charities like PlantLife to support the conservation of threatened plant species. As always, I would love to see more of this – but they get points for a sustained commitment that I hope continues to evolve.
WINE #14: Le Blanc, Vin de France, Souleil Wines (16/20, Saratoga Wine)
Where I had it: At home with my husband after a long day (week? month? It’s all starting to blend together…) at work.
How much a glass cost me: $0. This was a sample I received.
How much a bottle would cost you: $9. (No, that’s not a typo!)
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 16/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – Zippy, fresh, delightful. This is a wine that doesn’t take itself too seriously and really – who needs that when it’s literally 100 degrees outside?! I love the combination of Piquepoul and Ugni Blanc. It’s easy like a warm summer night when you’ve got nothing to do but talk, breathe, and relax.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 3/5 – Not my favorite wine to pair with from the month, but it still held its own. I’d keep it to lighter seafood and crisp salads with easy, lemon-based dressings. Can’t go wrong with those in the summertime anyway!
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – It’s pretty insane that a wine this cheap from France exists on the U.S. market at all – and that it’s not just drinkable, but delicious. An absolutely insane price that makes it attainable for anyone interested – and not in a bad way.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4/5 – All the Souleil Wines are organic and vegan, but the high score here refers to their corporate sustainability efforts. They are partnered with some of the world’s leading organizations for ocean conservation, like Project Rescue Ocean, the Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and the 5 Minute Foundation. As someone who used to work in ocean conservation (a lifetime ago!), this is exactly the commitment I hope to see more of from the wine industry in today’s world.
If you’ve learned anything from my reviews this month let it be this: there is much more to Bordeaux than meets the eye. I cannot wait to see where they take the momentum they’re building and I can’t wait to keep writing about their efforts to revolutionize the wine world. Go buy some Bordeaux wines and thank me later!
Looking for more wine reviews? Check out the May Edition or my methodology post on Unfined + Unfiltered. Enjoy, santé !
