A $10 white wine actually worth drinking from Bordeaux
Craig LaBan recommends a lovely white sauvignon blanc, bright with lemony citrus notes, for a bargain price.
Looking for a $10 wine that still actually tastes like real wine, not assembly line plonk, has become something of a unicorn hunt. But a recent search for bargain bottles in tune with light spring drinking (at a price that converges painlessly with a cooking project involving a generous wine braise) has landed a surprisingly pretty young thing from one of the most underrated sources for dry white wines -- Bordeaux. The region is famed for its trophy reds, of course, but Bordeaux is also one of the least talked about sources of everyday-priced quality sauvignon blanc. Given the value of its $9.99 price tag in Pennsylvania, this 2016 Chateau Haut Maurin pointed out by PLCB wine specialist Max Gottesfeld proves it shouldn't be overlooked. This bottle is neither as garishly grapefruity as its New World counterparts nor as minerally and deep as the legendary crus from the Loire. But after unceremoniously dumping half my bottle first into the family brisket pot, I took a sip as an afterthought, paused, and was most pleasantly surprised. Bright with lemony citrus notes and backed by just a rounding hint of honeydew and pear sweetness, it washed refreshingly across the palate with a leafy vegetal finish that reminded me of the white tea, elegantly reined in by a delicate balance and an easy-drinking 12.5 percent alcohol touch. It'll be perfect alongside your next light fish dinner, or your secret weapon to entertain a crowd with affordable style at your next spring block party.
-- Craig LaBan
Chateau Haut Maurin Sauvignon Blanc Bordeaux 2016, $9.99 (code 15942).