Château Le Sartre Blanc 2011

A white now seven years old and still in its first flush of youth! This 2011 certainly proves the ageability of whites from the Graves’ Pessac Léognan. It’s from a 19th century estate with outstanding terroir. No wonder it is bordered by three First Growths. During the two World Wars, its vineyards lay neglected, but with new owners in the late ’70s and a new team in place in 2005, the wines have regained their brilliance. Two thirds of production at Le Sartre is red, with just 10 hectares of premium Sauvignon and Sémillon. These white grape vines are now 25 years old and well sheltered by surrounding pines, so flavours are both ripe and deliciously concentrated. Fermented and aged in barrel for 9 months, this wine needs time to breathe.