Château Lamothe de Haux Bordeaux Blanc 2005

Light, lovely, and delightfully uncomplicated, the 2005 Château Lamothe de Haux Bordeaux Blanc embodies all that is good in white Bordeaux. A dazzling robe, replete with a pale yellow hue, captures the color of the summer sun and sets the table for the sprightly pleasure to come. For openers, the 2005 Château Lamothe flaunts a bright, seductive nose that recalls the scents and savors of early summer: aromatic herbs, citrus, fresh mown grass, and newly picked summer fruits. Elegant, round, and immediately ingratiating, the Château Lamothe Blanc slips ever so easily down the thirsty throat and begs the unresisting arm to bend in order to have the pleasure of another quaff. In short, the 2005 Château Lamothe is simply irresistible, from its comely start to its gratifying finish. For optimum enjoyment, we suggest serving the 2005 Château Lamothe Blanc fairly well chilled (about 40° F). However, we have enjoyed this classy white Bordeaux almost as much at room temperature, so as you like it!

When asked what he thought the 2005 Château Lamothe Bordeaux Blanc would be best paired with, one member of the panel smugly retorted: "A glass… well, on second thought, how about you make it two glasses." In an ideal world, there would indeed be a glass or two of 2005 Château Lamothe Blanc in every hand to start an evening's festivities, and a bottle at every place set at table. Indeed, Château Lamothe Blanc is one easy drinking wine; it could easily compete for top billing as the perfect aperitif. Nonetheless, it, also, pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, sautéed oysters, grilled scallops, and most seafood specialties. Heartier fare won't cause it to fade either. We are fond of it with a baked breast of chicken, stuffed with a breadcrumb, herb, and Parmesan dressing. Soft, creamy cow's cheeses offer wonderful accompaniments, too. We recommend it highly with ripe French Brie, Camembert, or Comté cheese. Bon appétit!

Château Lamothe de Haux is a splendid wine estate and country manor whose origins date to the 17th century. It is one of the most impressive, poetic pieces of the splendid Premières Côtes of Bordeaux. Château Lamothe was renovated in the 19th century and is now the charming home of the Néel-Chombard family who own and manage this property along with neighboring Château Sauvage and nearby Château Manos. The splendor of Château Lamothe de Haux begins with its imposing position. It sits atop a rocky spur that is surrounded by vines. When viewed from the vineyard, the Château and its nearly two hundred acres of vines appear as a ship, plying the open waters of the sea. Situated in an undulating sea of vines, Château Lamothe is caressed by the light of both the rising and setting sun – the perfect Bordeaux terroir for the cultivation of the vine. Although Château Lamothe itself dates only to the 17th century, the vine and the spirit of wine have thrived in the picturesque part of the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux where Château Lamothe now sits since Gallo Roman times. This area was also once an important stop over for the annual throng of pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella, one of medieval Christendom's greatest pilgrimage sites. Today, the fusion of sun and earth produce the alchemy that draws visitors to its caves and render the wines of Château Lamothe so endearing. The Néel-Chombard family and their trained winegrowers and enologists, Anne, Fabrice, Maria, and Damien fashion wonderful white as well as red wine at Château Lamothe. As with many family owned Bordeaux estates, there is equal attention paid to white and red wine here and both are made in considerable quantity. The Château Lamothe Blanc is a traditional blend of three white Bordeaux grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc (40%), Sémillon (40%), and Muscadelle (20%). The latter varietal is an authentic Bordeaux variety from which dry white wine is fashioned; it bears no relation to Moscatel, the sweet insipid wine of old. Similarly, the Château Lamothe Rouge combines the three long-established red Bordeaux varietals into an artful blend. In a normal vintage, the traditional red cuvee is comprised of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), and Cabernet Franc (10%). As impressive as Château Lamothe is above ground, it is even more remarkable from below. From hidden entrances carved into solid rock, the cellars of this château descend nearly two hundred feet beneath the ground. Originally excavated in the 17th century, the stone from this enormous cellar was used to construct many of the classic elegant buildings that today render the nearby city of Bordeaux so attractive. In the place where rock alone once resided, there now rests the elegant and generous wines of Château Lamothe. The Néel-Chombard family best captures this transformation in the following ode. "Time flows in my underground kingdom, sculpting, polishing, and ageing… Slowly and gently… Like the stone that was once here, wine now fills up the space. The roundness of its aromas and barrels marries that of The vaults that protect it. Silence, coolness, and intimacy conducive to talking and tasting Every bottle of our wine perpetuates a long love story Between sky, earth, and men…."