Wines Bordeaux Château Château - Ch Raymond Lafon - 2010

Château Château's 2010 Cuvée Ch Raymond Lafon from the Bordeaux appellation is a white dry wine that encapsulates the region's finesse and balanced style. While the precise blend is not clearly listed, Bordeaux blancs are typically crafted from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and sometimes Muscadelle—these varieties contribute to fresh citrus, floral, and occasionally lightly honeyed notes alongside a textured palate. The 2010 vintage comes from a year renowned for its balance and longevity, offering wines with both lively acidity and ripe fruit complexity. Vinification in Bordeaux often involves careful temperature control and, depending on the house style, may include some maturation on lees to add richness without overwhelming freshness.

The wider Bordeaux region, stretching along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, is renowned for its complex mosaic of soils—gravel, clay, limestone—all of which impart a distinct minerality and structure to its wines. The climate here is temperate with Atlantic influences, bringing humidity and a gentle, moderating effect on temperatures, which assists with a slow, even ripening season. Bordeaux’s rich winemaking history—its whites having at times been as prized as its reds—shows in the continued dedication to crafting nuanced, age-worthy dry white wines.

For food pairings, this genre of Bordeaux blanc lends itself beautifully to delicate seafood dishes such as grilled sea bass, oysters, or smoked salmon. Classic pairings from the region might include fish in beurre blanc, scallops, or a crisp goat’s cheese salad. Poultry with herbs or a touch of lemon also works well, as would a simple roast chicken or asparagus risotto.

This wine should ideally be served chilled, at a temperature of 8-10°C, to preserve its freshness and aromatic vibrancy. Allow it a moment in the glass to unfold, and it may reveal further layers of complexity characteristic of both its origin and careful ageing.