If you could go back in time or remember the summer of 2006 in the Bordeaux region of France you would remember a very dry hot heat in the early summer followed by a chilly August and then another hot dry month in September, followed by numerous rain filled days. The swing in temperatures and the dry months followed by wet months created a perfect grape growing environment in which the Clarendelle Blanc 2006 benefited quit nicely from. The Clarendelle Blanc has a stunning bouquet with very fresh, fruity bold flavors that are both elegant and inviting. Along with a great mouth feel this wine is perfectly blended to combine a number of complex flavor notes with strong finer mineral after notes which strike a perfect blend of complexity that make this wine perfect for so many food dishes.
Clarendelle Blanc comes from the Chateau Haut-Brion estate and is run by the Dillon family who pride themselves in producing world renowned white wines such as Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc and the Chateau Laville Haut-Brion. The Clarendelle name is in homage to Clarence Dillon who purchased the historic estate back in 1934 during the world wide depression that ravished a number of Boudreaux area vineyards.
Not only is this currently a hot buy for most wine lovers, the price is shockingly low for such a complex wine, proving great wines don’t need to break the bank. Clarendelle Blanc 2006 can be found anywhere between $15-$25, check this link out for the latest prices.
Even though the Boudreaux area of France is notable for creating very expensive sought after wines that have been recognized as great for hundreds of years, there is plenty of diversity in the area and some great finds are only a drink away. As the Boudreaux area becomes even more diversified, elegant sophisticated wines such as Clarendelle Blanc should become more common place. For a more detailed article on the Boudreaux area please refer to this link.
Since this wine isn’t too strong or too soft it is suitable for a wide variety of food pairings, Asian food comes to mind first. I love how the flavors and mouth feel of this particular vintage lends itself to paring nicely with strong spicy Asian dishes and strong Asian-fusion dishes. The blend of grapes in this wine creates a nice flavor palette also suitable for a number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.
Another fun combination that took me by surprise with this wine was how it paired with Mexican-fusion cuisine, especially the lighter vegetarian or vegan Mexican dishes. This leads me to believe that Clarendelle Blanc 2006 would most likely pair very well with a number of vegetarian and vegan dishes that are silky and rich or spicy.
