Sainte Anne 2013 Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux

Some wines from Bordeaux can be inexpensive as well as delicious. Case in point, this white Entre-Deux-Mers.

Land Between Two Waters

One great feature of the Certified Specialist of Wine class that I am taking now is the Wine of the Week. For each of our weekly online classes, a wine is selected for us to sip while class is in session.

It helps expand your wine horizons and gets you to try wines you normally would pass right by. This white Entre-Deux-Mers is such a wine.

Entre-Deux-Mers Region

Wine lovers often debate the qualities of wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank (known for Cabernet Sauvignon) and the Left Bank (home of famous Merlot-based wines). There is an often overlooked region right in between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers – Entre-Deux-Mers – which produces a large volume of wine.

The soil in Entre-Deux-Mers is more fertile than the Left or Right banks, which is a bad thing for wine. Flavors of the red grapes are far less concentrated, so much so that EDM does not have a red wine appellation (AOC in France). The area does produce a boatload of red wines, most of it under a much broader, “generic” AOC Bordeaux label.

The whites are a different story. There is an AOC in Entre-Deux-Mers for dry white wine – and it is quite good.

Smashing Sauvignon Blanc

Whites in the region are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. The first two are a classic pairing and Muscadelle is primarily a blending grape.

The wine is lemon yellow with intense aroma of tropical fruit. This is a young wine, crisp and fruity – meant to be consumed within a few years of bottling.

For $16, I was surprised at the quality. In the glass this is dry with medium-high acidity and a light-medium body. There is a swirl of cut grass, slate minerality and citrus notes.

Sauvignon Blanc lovers, this should be on your list, especially if you dislike highly acidic wines. The Semillon and Muscadelle add balance to this refreshing and enjoyable white. At a sub-$20 price tag, you can add a touch of French sophistication with multiple bottles at your next soiree.