Sirius Bordeaux Blanc 2010
Sirius Wine was the first wine made by one of the big French Wine merchants / negociants Maison Sichel, and they started back in 1985 in the commune Canton de Saint Macaire. What they wanted to do was to make a wine from a lesser area in the way that the top wine makers do, so showing that although terroir plays its part.... so does the wine making! Making a wine surpass its origin in effect.
First produced in 1985, careful selection after machine harvesting,skin maceration of the sauvignon blanc, barrel fermented with lees stirring 2-3 times per week, and barrel maturation for 2-3 months in the same way that the grand cru classe's of Graves and Pessac-Leognan, so placing it in a top quality category.
The Sirius brand is a flagship of Maison Sichel and is considered a niche wine with only 200 000 bottles of the white wine made and 500 000 of the red. 19ha of vines ( semillon and sauvignon blanc ) which are 30 years old are planted in clay/limestone soils on the banks of the Garonne River.
The blend is 50:50 Semillon : Sauvignon Blanc, is very pale with a slight greenness to the rim, the legs are slow and thick as would be expected from the semillon content. Aromas of green apples, citric overtones and a hint of pear and white blossom. On the mouth a silky mouth feel but clean and dry, once more citric and crisp apple abound with fresh acidity and a creamyness due to the lees stirring, well balanced alcohol and a clean citric finish, again a lovely wine at the price of about £9.95. Summer time in a glass or great as an aperitif all year round.
