Chateau Brown Blanc 2023

Drink now or cellar for up to 10 years. Serve chilled. Chateau Brown is named after its 18th century owner, the Scottish wine trader John Lewis Brown, although the estate’s roots date right back to the late Middle Ages. Over the past couple of centuries the chateau’s fortunes have alternated between disrepair and glory. In 2004 it was taken over by the Mau family, prominent Bordeaux wine merchants since 1897, who have made it their mission to improve vineyard management and winemaking at the chateau. The chateau has traditionally been better known for its white wines like this classic Chateau Brown Blanc than its red wines. It’s typically a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon from their estate vines, with the fruit fermented in smaller stainless steel tanks which are temperature-controlled to preserve freshness and varietal typicity. The white wine then ages in 50% new French oak for 8 months. In the glass there’s an attractive light golden hue and enticing aromas of freshly-cut grass, dried herbs, and bright green apple notes. The first sip reveals a zingy acidity, light body, and a pure, clean finish with hints of ripe pear, citrus, and baked apple. A great white to serve as a refreshing aperitif or partner for leafy salads, roast chicken, and grilled fish.

Price: £32.71 from 8wines UK