Grand Enclos du Chateau de Cerons, Graves, 2006‏ - Marks & Spencer

This is no ordinary bottle of white ... it's a Marks and Spencer 2006 oak-aged, white Bordeaux from Graves, chosen for the Good Food Would Choose Bordeaux campaign. And it costs £16.

So, rather different from your run-of-the-mill fresh and fruity sub-£10 New World style white, then.

In the glass, it is a deep yet bright golden colour. The nose reveals complex, aged, sherry-esque aromas - beneath the white flowers, citrus and grapefruit, there is ripe melon skin, evolved spice, struck match and a yeasty pungency.

The palate is full and weighty with a creamy texture, sweet honeydew melon and dried pineapple pieces, a touch of vanilla spice and subtle oak.

Long on the palate, it has a persistent and balanced finish.

Very well-made, very accomplished and rather unusual; trainspotters may be interested to learn it is a blend of 70% Sémillon, 21% Sauvignon Blanc, 9% Sauvignon Gris.

A really lovely wine - beautifully balanced and complex and all the more interesting for having some bottle age.

Very good indeed - and worth the money ? I think so.

Match with aged hard cheeses, such comté or appenzeller, or slow roast pork belly with apple sauce.

Links

Marks and Spencer - http://www.marksandspencer.com/
Good Food Would Choose Bordeaux - http://www.goodfoodwouldchoosebordeaux.com/