2017 Peybonhomme Le Blanc Bonhomme

Region: Côtes de Blaye < Bordeaux < France

Gapes: Sauvingnon Blanc, Semillon

Winemaker: Rachel and Guillaume Hubert

The Hubert family settled at Château Peybonhomme-Les-Tours near the
banks of the Gironde River in 1895, and stuck around for six
generations.  We can see why. The sprawling estate is located on a
steep hill overlooking the Gironde estuary, with vineyards flowing
down the slopes to the river - they call this place the ‘Little
Switzerland of Gironde’.  And you can take it all in from the
Château's 17th-century tower!  Siblings Rachel and Guillaume Hubert
are running the show now, continuing the family tradition of producing
wines that respect the place and environment -- and they're one of the
relatively few properties in Bordeaux who have embraced natural
winemaking.  In the Côtes de Blaye, there are just 2 biodynamic
producers out of some 400, although there are 10-15 farming
organically.  Thankfully, the Huberts see the value in farming in a
more holistic way that considers the future: rather than a singular
focus on the vines, they view their 158 acre estate as a single
organism, which means there is grassland at the edge of the vineyards,
woodland and wetland areas of the estate are preserved, and the
banning of hunting has created a refuge for wild animals.

This Blanc Bonhomme is their classic Bordeaux Blanc, a blend of the
regions two white grapes, SB + Semillon, packaged beautifully in a
Burgundy bottle with a label from the 1950s. There is a lovely round
texture here with ripe pear and apple, a salty, citrussy note and
rocky minerality.  A delicious, complex and expressive wine that makes
you feel fancy and grown up, drinking a classic Bordeaux Blanc, but
smarter than your parents, because your Bordeaux is organic,
biodynamic and made in a way cleaner way than most Bordeaux out there.
Stock up and drink now.