Union Grands Crus Bordeaux 2021 Vintage Tasting- Blancs

 I was able to again attend the tasting by the Union Grands Crus Bordeaux in SF. 

I went into the tasting knowing nothing of the vintage, as I wanted to be able to taste them without any preconceptions or knowledge of the season. 

I think I collectively tasted less white wines this year as time simply got away from me. In a vintage that clearly saw more difficult ripening of the reds, the whites showed wonderfully. 

The standouts from PESSAC-LEOGNAN for me came from Pape Clement, Bouscaut and Carbonniuex. 

The nose on the Chateau Bouscuat was a bit muted and un-expressive, but he wine had really nice flavors of orange zest over lemon and crunchy, underripe peach. Lovely acidity. 

Carbonnieux was also not super aromatic, but showed pretty, floral aromas. I found it to be racy and vibrant with nice citrus and melon flavors. Very nice. 

Pape Clement exhibited the most aromatics with loads of lemon, grapefruit and gooseberry and had a really pretty palate and excellent texture. It had ripe tropical and citrus notes with very good balance. 

Also enjoyable, was de Chevalier, which exhibited a somewhat muted nose and a fresh and bright expression that had some woody/stemmy character and fresh herbs. 

A new winery for me, was Chateau de France, with a nose of fresh leaves and herbs and flavors of citrus and zest with grapefruit, lemon and even a hint of line. Nice minerality here. 

Not a lot represented from Barsac or Sauternes this year.

My favorite "sticky" came from Chateau de Rayne Vigneau. Aromas of melon, apricot and hints of toasty hazelnut. Very good wine with flavors of honey and candied apricot and pineapple. Excellent.

Next top was from Doisy-Vedrines, their 2018. Aromas of honeyed apricot and a touch of nuttiness. Exuberant flavors of candied pineapple, candied ginger and dried apricot with a touch of marzipan. Very nicely balanced. 

Then, the wine from Guiraud, a 2016. Less expressive on the nose than the priors but standout remarkable acidity. Flavors of peach, apricot and a touch of vanilla over toasty flavors. Nice. 

Also from 2016, Sigalas Rabaud, with aromas of lemon oil, though not super aromatic. Nice Semillon-type flavors, being very floral with chamomille. A nice wine.