Medium straw color; lime-lemon, grapefruit, green apple, pear, beeswax, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; medium acidity, light-medium body. Classic white Bordeaux blend of 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon (slightly different from their usual 80-20 split). Warm, rich with engaging mouthfeel, likely thanks to the beeswax notes from the semillon. Wine vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel. Aged in stainless steel. No oak influence. The 2020 vintage is regarded as excellent, as this effort reflects. 12.5%ABV
The family of Malet Roquefort has worked at Saint Emilion since 1705. They own seven wine-producing estates in the Bordeaux and Saint Emilion AOC as well as the famous Château La Gaffelière 1st growth estate. The family started Comtesse de Malet Roquefort in 2012 in order to share Right Bank wines with the largest number of consumers. It is produced by the same team as Château La Gaffelière. They consider it the gateway wine to their entire collection.
While the Malet Roquefort family traces their wine history in Bordeaux to 1705, their lands have grown grapes since Roman times. In 1969, the family discovered ruins of the Gallo-Roman Villa du Palat with mosaics depicting vine plantings. Château La Gaffelière, which gained status in 1954 as a Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, is the original estate of the Malet Roquefort family.
The website notes: “In 2001, the family united three estates, Château La Gaffelière, Château Chapelle d’Aliénor, and Château Armens, under a single brand: Domaines Comte de Malet Roquefort. Later, in 2008 Château La Connivence also joined the Domaines. Today, the Domaines Comte de Malet Roquefort estates include: Château La Gaffelière, Château Chapelle d’Aliénor, Château Armens, and Château La Connivence. Founded on the four guiding principles of excellence, elegance, authenticity, and independence, the Malet Roqueforts have passed on their traditions, generation after generation, and today Alexandre de Malet Roquefort is at the helm of Domaines Comte de Malet Roquefort. Like his ancestors, he shares a passion for wine and for the Saint-Émilion terroir which they call home.”
Comtesse de Malet Roquefort Bordeaux Blanc 2020 is crisp and mouthwatering, a thirst-quenching delight, especially for a white Bordeaux at this price point. Elegant. Harmonious. Ideal for warm day sipping on the porch or patio. Pair with pork; vegetarian fare; garden salad; summer salad—fruit, vegetable, protein; lean fish and meaty, oily fish—salmon, mackerel, swordfish, tuna; shellfish; baked, broiled chicken; appetizers, snacks, charcuterie board. Cheese—goat cheese; chèvre, brie, camembert, havarti, asiago, fontina, gouda; lighter, fresher cheeses work best. $15-18
Domaines Comte de Malet Roquefort website
