AUSTIN, Texas (Mar. 3, 2011) — Offering an early taste of the 2009 Bordeaux vintage that wine experts suggest will be the best in more than 30 years, Whole Foods Market now features a limited supply of Bordeaux wines that are true bargains but drink like they cost a fortune.
“The ‘grandmère’ of the wine world, Bordeaux wines are some of the finest and most desirable wines in the world. They are rich in heritage and steeped in flavors that provide a real sense of place, exuding tastes of where they come from,” said Doug Bell, global wine buyer for Whole Foods Market. “This special shipment of Bordeaux wines was selected and priced to introduce these old-world wines to shoppers who may have previously been intimidated by its bold history, reputation and price. We are delighted to offer these much-anticipated treasures this spring.”
Priced under $20, the two white and seven red Bordeaux wines that Whole Foods Market is featuring this March and April, while supplies last, are hand-selected wines from small, family-owned properties – or “petits châteaux” – in the Bordeaux region, one of France’s best-known and largest wine regions. Whole Foods Market has bought the entire vintage of all but one of these wines.
Bordeaux Twitter Tasting
Whole Foods Market invites shoppers to its Twitter Tasting on Mar. 11, from 6-7 p.m. CST when its global wine and cheese buyers will lead a virtual tasting of four of the featured wines and accompanying cheeses. To RSVP or for more information, visit https://on.fb.me/wfmbordeaux. Follow @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine and check with local stores for Twitter Tasting events.
Here are Whole Foods Market’s 2009 Bordeaux wines, with suggested cheese and food pairings:
Château Magence
Graves Blanc
The lively floral and citrus nose of this crisp white balances round notes of Meyer lemon and sweet peas with the acidity of key limes.
Pair with a sheep’s milk cheese like Ossau Iraty or P’tit Basque Recipe pairing: Spring Pea Risotto
Château Le Touzinard
Bordeaux Rouge
The ripeness of tart cherries and cranberries with a touch of black olive, menthol and oak offer a striking nose and clean flavor for this red wine.
Pair with the spicy, buttery finish of Comté, France’s first AOC cheese Recipe pairing: Quinoa with Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms
Château La Fleur Dallon
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Rouge
This medium-bodied red enjoys deep plum fruitiness and aromas of currants and a hint of toasted wood, with good structure and balance.
Pair with an aged goat’s milk cheese like Hervé Mons Lavort de Chèvre Recipe pairing: Steak and Goat Cheese Salad
Château Picau-Perna
Saint-Émilion Rouge
Rhubarb and ripe blueberries fill the nose and pair with notes of green ferns and fine-grained tannins.
Pair with Seaside Cheddar or Cabot Clothbound Cheddar Recipe pairing: Steak with Red Wine-Herb Sauce
Château La Gravière
Bordeaux Rouge
An earthy, structured red with hints of white and black pepper in the nose and a gripping minerality Pair with creamy, aged Rogue Anniversary Blue Recipe pairing: Roasted Vegetable Stew with White Beans
Château Bonnet
Entre-Deux-Mers Blanc
Zingy, juicy and expansive on the palate, this white balances vibrant, ripe aromas of grapefruit and peach with just the right minerality.
Pair with soft-ripened Bucherondin Recipe pairing: Bibb Lettuce with Sautéed Sole and Dijon Vinaigrette
Château Moulin de Mallet
Bordeaux Rouge
With dark rich claret color and a bouquet of red fruits with surprising hints of vanilla, licorice and blackberries, this red is rich and round with a lingering finish.
Pair with mildly spicy and gently sweet Gorgonzola Recipe pairing: Gorgonzola and Smoky Bacon Burger
Château Robin
Lussac-Saint-Émilion Rouge
A subtly powerful red, with sweetly smoky notes and a rich touch of tobacco and leather in the nose Pair with soft and spicy Blue d’Auvergne and Normandy’s Hervé Mons Camembert Recipe pairing: Lamb Chops with Pan-Glazed Vegetables
Château Haut-Laborie
Bordeaux Rouge
A red with brilliant ruby color and the seductive fragrance of crushed red berries and vanilla.
Pair with classic blues like Roquefort or Stilton Recipe pairing: Cassoulet-style French Bean Stew
To find these great picks in stores, look for Bordeaux wine displays throughout Whole Foods Market wine departments, along with recommendations for pairing with foods and the season’s best cheeses. Shoppers receive a ten percent discount on purchases of six or more bottles as permitted by law.
Note: High resolution wine, recipe and winemaker photos are available at https://wholefoodsmarket.com/pressroom/photo-gallery.
