| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Bordeaux (White) |
| Colour | White |
| Type | Still |
Small quantities of this cult white wine are produced by the Guinaudeau family of Château Lafleur at their Grand Village property.
This 2023 white is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc (Massal selections from Sancerre)
The 2023 Les Champs Libres is pure Sauvignon Blanc picked from August 28 to 30. Interestingly, you would not pick this up as Sauvignon Blanc on the nose. It’s very pretty, with more orchard fruit than bell pepper scents. Further hints of white peach come through with time. The two-thirds new oak is already very well integrated. The palate is particularly well balanced, with a pure lime cordial and peachy entry, a fine bead of acidity and a tensile, persistent finish. This is absolutely delicious with bells on.
The Les Champs Libres 2023 Blanc is one of the white wines of the vintage. Exhaling aromas of lime blossom, spices, confit citrus, lemon oil and spring flowers, it’s chalky and concentrated with fleshy, structuring tannins and bright acids that segues into a long, saline and mineral finish. This is crafted from 100% Sancerrois massal selections of Sauvignon Blanc. Kudos!
Lime and honeysuckle aromas here, as well as lemon rind. It has a medium to full body, a dense center-palate and crunchy fruit. It’s rich on the finish, yet remains vivid and long. 100% sauvignon blanc from Sancerre clone.
Les Champs Libres 2023 is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. It erupts from the glass with a powerful perfume of lime and orange blossoms, leading to a core of fresh grapefruit, lemonade, pineapple, and aniseed, with a waft of wet pebbles. The medium-bodied palate is intense with wonderful tension, offering layers of mineral and citrus flavors, finishing with a tropical kick.
Has there been a better launch in Bordeaux in recent years than this wine? Once again it presents an arresting, steel-tipped example of what can be produced in the region. Pummice stone texture, shot through with citrus, lime bud, lime zest, sage, grated ginger, confit lemon, with energy and lift. Unracked until this point, 80% new oak for ageing. Hard not to want to own this wine, from the same team as Lafleur in Pomerol.
The 2023 Les Champs Libres is a seriously beautiful, vibrant white. Citrus peel, chalk, white pepper, crushed rocks and a kick of oak sweetness race across the palate. This sculpted dry white is a total knock-out. Bright saline notes extend the finish effortlessly.
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Cask sample.
Citrus notes with a chalky-mineral edge. Fruit present but this is all about line and length. Quite a bit of tension giving lift and persistence. Still a touch of oak but integrated. Atypical for bordeaux (the Sauvignon originally from Sancerre). Interesting to see how this unravels. (JL)
Drink 2026 – 2033
