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Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Falling in love with the sweet side of Bordeaux

When you think of Bordeaux you are most likely to think of Bordeaux's spectacular red wines, or maybe some of its white wines however, Bordeaux has a sweet side. While attending the 2021 Wine Media Conference #WMC21 I attended a Discovery Session on the Sweet Wines of Bordeaux. I soon fell in love with the sweet side of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux, France

The session was given by Union Des Vines Doux De Bordeaux. The Union Des Vins Doux de Bordeaux is an association of four organizations:

  • ODG des Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieurs
  • ODG des Premières Côtes de Bordeaux et Cadillac
  • ODG des Liquoreux de Bordeaux
  • ODG des Côtes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire

Tasting Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

The Union ensures the protection of official logos identifying the quality and origin of the grapes and the wines. It includes eight Appellations, eight interpretations of wines, which they describe as sensual, fruity and voluptuous for all occasions and tastes!
Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

A Sweet Bordeaux Afternoon at #WMC21 

Indeed for me tasting four sweet Bordeaux wines was a perfect afternoon. The following suggestions were made for serving these wines:

Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

Next, four wines were introduced.

Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

During the tasting we checked out some foods to pair with each wine.

The four wines were:

1. Chateau La Hargue, Bordeaux Moelleux Sweet 2019

Chateau La Hargue, Bordeaux Moelleux Sweet 2019

Produced from Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris grapes this is an off-dry wine with a nice balance between sugar and acidity. It has hints of tree fruits, honey and minerals that make it enticing. This wine sells for around $11, a fabulous Price Quality Ratio (PQR).

Available in the US at:
• Medallion Global, Texas
• Baystate Wine & Spirits  Massachussets/Rhodes Island/New Hampshire.
• Terreaneo Merchants in Illinois /New York /and  New Jersey, Laville Imports

2. Chateau des Arroucats, AOC Saint Croix-du-Mont Sweet 2017

Chateau des Arroucats, AOC Saint Croix-du-Mont Sweet 2017 © Spaswinefood

Produced from 92% Semillion, and 8% Sauvignon grapes this wine is medium gold in color. It is aromatic with tropical-fruit flavors of mango, pineapple, with hits of apple, pear, marmalade, and blossom. This medium-bodied Bordeaux has a medium to long finish, and has been described as having a creamy texture. It paired well with the blue cheese and dried apricots. selling around $15 a bottle this another a fabulous Price Quality Ratio (PQR).


Available in the US at: 
Vintage Wine Marketing 


3. Chateau du Cros, AOC Loupiac 2016

Chateau du Cros, AOC Loupiac 2016 © Spaswinefood

This wine is produced from 90% Semillon, with 5% Sauvignon Gris and % Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Deep gold in color, this full-bodied sweet Bordeaux on the nose has intense aromas of apricot, pineapple, orange marmalade, mango, apple, with hints of lychee and white peach. On the palate these flavors are complex with a long finish. Costing around $22 this wine has the richness of Sauternes but it costs a fraction of the price. 


Available in the US at:
Calvert Woodley Fine Wines & Spirits, 4339 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 2008 
Contacts : Michaël Sands,  Jennifer Sanders (WWW.calvertwoodley.com)

4. Chateau La Rame, Cadillac Semi-Sweet 2017 

Chateau La Rame, Cadillac Semi-Sweet 2017 © Spaswinefood

This wine is produced from 90% Semillion and 10% Sauvignon grapes. It has a perfect Golden Color, with inviting aromas, and citrus and exotic fruits, and hints of miner laity with nice acidity on the palate. Even at $30 bottle, the most expensive of the four we tasted, this is a good PQR. It is a wine that will age well. I would love to taste this wine after further aging.

Available in the US at: 

Rosenthal Wine Merchant  56-43  58 Th St. Queens NY 11378, www.madrose.com

I tasted each of the above wines with four food pairing options.

Food Pairing for Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

Pairings, Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

These above food pairing were but an intro to the range of possibilities. There are many exciting food pairings (tapas, plates, cheeses, and desserts) for Sweet Bordeaux wines. The Union Des Vines Doux De Bordeaux website Sweet Bordeaux is a must. 

Pairings with Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

I loved discovering the sweet side of Bordeaux. It is so easy to fall in love with the sweet side of Bordeaux. If you have not yet to discover Sweet Bordeaux Wines now is the perfect time to explore. Founded in 2009 by the Union des Grands Vin Liquoreux de Bordeaux, Sweet Bordeaux is a brand of sweet and dessert white wines, from eight Protected Designations of Origin (DOCs) vineyards within the Bordeaux region. The slow, painstaking harvesting process and limited production makes Sweet Bordeaux especially rare and selective white wines. Besides their awesome website you can also connect with them on Instagram and FacebookI invite you to join me in my travels in Oregon and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood


Sharon
August 2021
Oregon
© Spaswinefood
Discovery Session: Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

Sweet Wines of Bordeaux, WMC21 © Spaswinefood

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Note: The above session that I attended was one of Charming Taste of Europe's  two Discovery Sessions at the 2021 Wine Media Conference. The Union of Sweet Bordeaux Wines is part of the mission of The Charming taste of Europe, co-funded by the European Union, to increase awareness of the merits and quality standards of select European wines and fresh fruits in the competitive markets of the United States of America and Canada. The project is promoted by the the Union of Sweet Bordeaux Wines. These French golden wines are produced with the artistry of agricultural traditions. Their campaign hopes to awaken the senses and a new culinary consciousness by connecting food, cultures, and territories and will undoubtedly bring European charm into the lives of many.

  

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