I was outdoors for a three-hour birthday party Saturday, and it was hot – not exactly out of the ordinary for a Houston weekend in July. It’s never a surprise when that pervasive heat continues to hang over the city through August and most of September before Fall begins.
But as bad as it may have been here (the high that day was pegged right at 100°F), a record-breaking heatwave crested in France last week, with temperatures in various areas reaching up to 114°F. With large swaths of the country like Bordeaux, chock full of so many historical old buildings constructed before the modern miracle that is central air conditioning, it can be pretty rough over there during the dog days of summer, too.
The brilliant residents of Bordeaux, however, have refined through the years two rational solutions to deal with months when drinking red wine might not be preferable: Bordeaux Blanc and Bordeaux Clairet (what the Bordelais call their famous, deeply hued rose wines).
Most people I’ve helped buying wine through the years consider Bordeaux first and foremost to be a red wine region, and they aren’t wrong – there are just under 300,000 acres planted to grape vines in Bordeaux, and red grape vines account for close to 90% of that area.
The inventory at Spec’s somewhat mirrors that – we currently have 1,057 bottles (and counting) of red in stock, compared to 75 whites and a handful of rosés across the Bordeaux categories. Of that deep selection, here are three ideal candidates to help beat the summer heat:
2017 Château Crabitey Blanc
The 2017 Château Crabitey Blanc is from Graves on the Southern end of Bordeaux’s Left Bank. Graves is famous for its gravelly soils, which are suited to producing mineral-rich wines; the 2017 vintage of Crabitey is comprised of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon, and is lean with refreshing acidity. $15.99 with 5% discount for cash, debit or check.
2017 Château Nicot Entre-Deux-Mers
For contrast, the 2017 Château Nicot Entre-Deux-Mers has a similar varietal composition (with about 10% of the Sauvignon Blanc replaced by Muscadelle) but is made with grapes grown in mineral-deficient sand and clay. This lends itself to a more floral, fruit-forward, but still dry style of Bordeaux Blanc. $9.99 with 5% discount for cash, debit or check
2018 Jean-Louis Trocard Bordeaux Rosé
And one of the best Bordeaux Clairets that Spec’s has to
offer is the 2018 Jean-Louis Trocard Bordeaux Rosé. A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30%
Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot, this robust rosé is perfect for when you want something light
but still substantive.
$9.99 with 5% discount for cash, debit or check
Cheers!
