Chateau Beychevelle Grand Bateau Bordeaux Blanc 2014

Product Description

DiscoverVin is excited to be importing Grand Bateau Blanc, a Bordeaux white from the well-known Bordeaux Cru Classé producer Chateau Beychevelle.  Chateau Beychevelle is a classified  Saint-Julien producer with a tradition of growing vines on the Garonne gravel of the Médoc dating back to the Middle Ages.

The boat (bateau) on the label refers to the mythical galleon of Chateau Beychevelle.  Ships on the Gironde estuary sailing past the Chateau would lower their sails to honour the Admiral who began growing vines there over three hundred years ago.

With a rich winemaking history Chateau Beychevelle has collaborated with Bordeaux negotiant Maison Barrière to produce this exciting, value for money wine.

The same team that produces the prestigious Chateau Beychevelle red wine, makes this wine.  Philippe Blanc, the chief  winemaker of Chateau Beychevelle guides the production of this wine based on a selection of the best wines from the Beychevelle estates.  Chateau Beychevelle follows “Terra Vitis” and “Sustainable Viticulture” practices, to produce high quality grapes using environmentally friendly methods.

Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc  

Alcohol: 13% VOL

Wine making:  Pre-fermentation maceration results in a wonderful aromatic structure. 70% of the juice is fermented in new oak barrels for four months, with accompanying batonnage (stirring of the lees).

Our Tasting notes:  Aromatic nose with buttery-vanillin oak notes and exotic fruit.  On the palate the wine is round and fleshy with wonderful minerality and delightful exotic fruit flavours. Lovely balance between the oak, fruit and acidity.  Excellent finish.

This was one of the standout wines at the Vinexpo wine exhibition in Bordeaux.   It offers value for money and exquisite drinking. Just drink on its own, enjoy with a pre-dinner platter or seafood and white meats.

Reviews: 

Max Allen Top Drops Gourmet Traveller

"When it's good, barrel-matured sauvignon blanc from Bordeaux is one of the most delicious white wines with rich fish dishes, and this is a very good example at a very attractive price" 

Reviewed by Winsor Dobbin who made it his wine of the week 

"Looking for a white wine that offers a little bit more than simple fresh fruit flavours? You've come to the right place. Grand Bateau is a collaboration between Maison Barrière and sister Bordeaux company Chateau Beychevelle, and made by Beychevelle winemaker Philippe Blanc. Sometimes a blend with a semillon component, the 2014 vintage is made from 100% sauvignon blanc with some parcels vinified in oak barrels and others in vats. The end result is a complex palate, full of interest, in which toasty vanillin oak co-exists alongside rich stone fruit characters. A wine of balance and interest'

Our friends The Wine Wankers also liked it and said this..

Invitingly leads you into lovely fruit, vanilla and toast complexity. Very quaffable #wine! In Aus by @discovervin. pic.twitter.com/VrikreEyoA

Also mentioned in a blog recently by Wine Folly on best value Bordeaux  wines. 

And Sean Mitchell in the Grape Observer said " In the glass, this release has charming aromatics of lemon, stones, minerals and old cedar.  Food friendly, the palate is fresh with good acidity and great balance."