Château Roquefort Les Roches Blanches Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, organic Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux that landed at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the April 11 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Château Roquefort, a family estate winery situated between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers in the heart of the Entre-deux-Mers region, within the commune of Lugasson and only a stone's throw away from Saint-Émilion. The estate has a very long, deep-rooted history, and has also passed through several families over the centuries, with the Bellanger family taking over Château Roquefort in 1976.

The name Roquefort takes its name from the Middle Ages: Roca Forte, which means rocky outcrop. Archeological evidence from the Neolithic era at the site finds a human settlement on the Roquefort limestone plateau, including pottery dating back to 4500 BC, along with a walkway and mass burial site at around 3700 BC. Further excavations revealed items from the Bronze and Iron Ages, as well as from the Gallo-Roman era. The oldest archival documents refer to the Roquefort fortification house in 1291 that was authorized to be rebuilt by King Edward I of England, with only a part of the original tower remaining today and has been restored by the Bellanger family.

From the 18th century onward, the château has evolved and tells a story of agriculture and winemaking in the region. When Jean and Christiane Bellanger fell in love with Château Roquefort in 1976, they breathed new life into the site in Entre-deux-Mers. Together, they understood terroir and gradually replanted the vineyard and worked with the Bordeaux Faculty of Oenology to adopt the best winemaking practices. By 1983, there were 30 hectares of vines, and in 1987 they began winemaking activities.

Today, Château Roquefort is run by the son of Jean and Christiane, Frédéric Bellanger, and his wife Anne. Frédéric took over the reins from his parents in 1995 and continued to develop the estate, which now covers 240 hectares, of which 85 hectares are grape vines. Together, they have succeeded in strengthening the estate's soul by paying tribute to its history and traditions, while also pushing towards a modern era of responsible and expert winemaking. They also share a passion for wine and the products of nature, which tell their history and provide unforgettable tasting moments and emotional experiences. Their four daughters — Victoire, Inès, Eva, and Raphaëlle — could be the future authors of Château Roquefort as each is learning how to produce and share good wine in their own way. With a strong commitment to respect for the environment, Château Roquefort was awarded Haute Valeur Environnementale in 2017, which was followed by the conversion to organic for white wines in 2021.

This white wine is crafted using 100% Sauvignon Blanc and showcases the mineral memory of the limestone terroirs where it is grown. The vineyards are located within the commune of Castelviel, which is the highest point in the Gironde, and the Sauvignon Blanc here thrives on the clay-limestone soils where fossilized oyster beds outcrop. This particular Sauvignon Blanc is from organically cultivated vines averaging 20 years old and are planted on chalky-clay soils. It was vinified by macerating the skins and undergoing a low-temperature fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats.

In Bordeaux, the 2024 growing season was an uneven and challenging vintage that featured lots of rain, which led to problems with downy mildew, coulure, and millerandage. On the bright side, white wines found great success as they delivered freshness, good concentration, and expressive aromas. The success of white wine varieties can be attributed to the less extreme temperatures of the year, along with cooler nighttime temperatures in August and September. Furthermore, vineyards on earlier-ripening sites and clay-based soils also benefitted from this low-yielding vintage. Let's see how this 2024 Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU ROQUEFORT LES ROCHES BLANCHES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - AOC Bordeaux, France (#35860) (XD) - $15.95
This lovely, organic Sauvignon Blanc has a restrained, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose of grapefruit, lime citrus, gooseberry, and herbal aromas nuanced with stony, yeasty, leesy mineral complexity. It is impressively concentrated on the dry, medium-full bodied palate with delicious grapefruit, lime citrus, herbal, gooseberry, and stony mineral replays on the flavours. It has fresh and zesty acidity, good structure, and a fine, chalky mineral textured mouthfeel. Stony minerals with grapefruit, lime citrus, and herbal notes linger on the long, balanced, and slightly chalky textured finish. Ideal with seafood, vegetarian fare, and poultry, and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines by Château Roquefort can be ordered through their Agent - Woodman Wines & Spirits.