WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

This month, we’re going all-in on Bordeaux to show you some of the best of what you already know, and hopefully introduce you to some new sides of this region’s personality.

Bordeaux (“bore-DOH”) is stunning. It’s the 6th largest city in France and combines old school castle vibes built along a beautiful river front, with a constant beat of food and young energy. And of course, drinks. The wine region is a little drive from the city, but its quiet farmland feels a world away.

And the whole place is packed with incredible stories. French officials used to hide out here during war times! It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site! Benjamin Franklin was so head over heels with Bordeaux wines that he introduced his bud Thomas Jefferson, who fell into a similar obsession (two hundred years later, one of his Bordeaux bottles sold for $157,000)!

But it can sometimes get overshadowed by a history-making (and maybe slightly snobbish / out of touch?) classification system from the mid 1800s. Don’t let that sway you, though. All of this just makes it more interesting when you get to open a bottle of wine and taste a small moment in Bordeaux time. Most wineries in this region are run by charming, super down-to-earth families with humble farms who make really delicious, unpretentious wine.

In September’s lineup, we get to share grapes you’ve probably heard of, made into gems you’ve probably never tasted, from some of these wonderful French folks.

Enjoy!
The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2021 Château le Roc Bordeaux Blanc

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
Region: Entre-deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France
Retail: $18
Pronunciation: “MOOS-kuh-del”, “ON-truh-duh-MARE”

Bordeaux is known for its rich (in more ways than one) red wines that make up a burly 90% of the region’s wine production, so anytime we get to drink a white Bordeaux it feels a little special. And add some native Muscadelle to the mix? We’re all in. Muscadelle (not to be confused with Muscadet or Moscatel) usually plays an understated role in white blends, but gets time to shine with our old friend Sauvignon Blanc in this very cool bottle.

Drinking & pairing ideas: For when you’re in the fall mood to roast a cozy chicken, but the evening sun is going strong and you also want to bask in the 70-something degree temps. Throw together a big end-of-summer salad on the side, serve this bottle chilled, and soak up all the goodness.

2021 Château Ducasse Bordeaux Blanc

Grapes: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Haut-Barsac, Bordeaux, France
Retail: $22
Pronunciation: “SEM-ee-yawn”

Next up is this fun blend by the completely kind and modest (but massively respected) winemaker Hervé Dubourdieu, who would really rather be left alone to hang with his family and just focus on making exceptional wine, like this bottle starring the lurker hit Sémillon. Hervé is known for his meticulousness — from the tight ship he runs in his winery to the way he farms to how he selects grapes. Similar to the Muscadelle blend in our first bottle, it’s unusual to get to taste so much Sémillon. But a benefit of hidden gems like this is that the value for the price is typically pretty killer. So if you see a bottle, you gotta drink it.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Calling your favorite curry dish (basil and lime for bonus points!) loving up on perfectly cooked vegetables and shrimp, or whatever protein you’re feeling. Serve this bottle chilled.

2020 Domaine les Carmels 'Les Caprices' Cadillac Bordeaux

Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Region: Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, France
Retail: $25
Pronunciation: “CAD-ee-yak”

It’s going to be hard to not ooze this description with charming adjectives, simply because of how much we like the lovely winemakers, Yorick and Sophie. This sweet couple owns a beautiful, small estate where a couple kids and cats run wild through the vineyards. They each found their way to wine independently. Yorick’s extended family owned vineyards for hundreds of years and he grew up down the street from their winery. Sophie — despite being from Bordeaux — knew very little about wine, but couldn’t shake the constant “you must know so much about wine” comments while in school in Montreal, and decided to go and learn so much about wine. Together, they make something very special that we’re so excited for you to get to taste.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Steak frites with Bordelaise sauce and a crisp, bright lettuce salad on the side. We’re this specific because we care.

6-BOTTLE MEMBERS ALSO GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

NV Château Sicot Crémant de Bordeaux Rosé Brut

Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Bordeaux, France
Retail: $23
Pronunciation: “KREH-mon” (skip that “t” at the end)

This sparkling beauty is another sleeper value hit. It’s made the same way as Champagne, but because it doesn’t carry that powerful name, we get to enjoy it for a much more palatable price.

If you’re wondering what the “NV” business is all about, it stands for “non-vintage” — super typical with sparkling wine. It means that the grapes that went into this bottle were harvested in multiple years (aka vintages). When there’s a defined vintage (like 2019, 2020, etc.) it means that all the grapes were picked in the same year. Fun stuff.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This is the type of bottle we just open and start pouring for anyone in the vicinity, enjoying the cold bubbles and not really thinking about food pairings. But if you must eat (kidding), why not pair it with a ruin-your-appetite-for-dinner cheese and smoked fish plate on an unexpected weekend afternoon? Alternatively, shrimp cocktail and / or oysters! With these bubbles, the world is your…never mind, don’t make us say it.

2018 Château Sauman Côtes de Bourg

Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France
Retail: $18
Pronunciation: “coat-duh-booh”

Véronique Braud has been skillfully running her 5th-generation family winery since 1989, where they focus on giving Merlot its fair shot at the limelight. You might remember the hoopla around Merlot from the 2004 movie Sideways (does “I’m not drinking any f***king Merlot” sound familiar?). Needless to say, the Braud family wasn’t too excited by this dig at their beloved native grape, and sticks it to Hollywood by showcasing Merlot in excellent form in this lovely blend.

Drinking & pairing ideas: We’re getting a little starry eyed picturing this bottle with a homemade lasagna. While the French and Italians bicker over who makes better wine, we’ll be over here diplomatically sneaking crispy, cheesy corners straight from the baking dish.

2019 Château Les Rambauds Cuvée des Abeilles Bordeaux

Grapes: Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Entre-deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France
Retail: $20
Pronunciation: “coo-VAY”

Chateau Les Rambauds is a tiny, 3rd generation winery tucked away near the Sauternes region. The family of winemakers dedicated this bottle to the bees to recognize the super important role they play in the vineyard.

Drinking & pairing ideas: We’d highly recommend opening this bottle alongside a full BBQ spread with all your favorite things — saucy ribs, tender brisket, coleslaw, potato salad, and buttery cornbread.

Looking for past lineups? We got you.

REMINDERS

• As always, our food suggestions are just starting points. Wine is nostalgic and we’re big fans of making what you like, drinking what you like, and not giving a damn if they “go” together.

• Email us at info@halfseaswine.com to buy more single bottles or a 12-bottle case with special pricing.

• Come see us at Halfseas, your charming little neighborhood wine shop tucked inside Brimmer & Heeltap. Open Wednesday through Sunday 12 - 9pm.

• Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.