Source for the World

We all know that France is The Source of all of the world’s best wines, don’t we?  Well that’ll be disputed by a great many people!  Two wines connected with the sentiment in different ways.

Firstly a 2007 ‘La Source’ Bordeaux Blanc from Chateau de Sours.  This is the very top white wine from Martin Krajewski who set up a modern top-flight winery in the Entre-Deux-Mers region.  This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc and given the Rolls-Royce barrel-ferment treatment.  No doubt showing the world how to make complex, barrel-influenced dry whites, and giving the Graves and Pessac-Leognan people a run for their money. As SWMBO said, it ain’t Loire, but it is deep and textural, quite rich and exotic in an austere way.  Not one for drinking on its own as with many Kiwi Savvys.  Named after a stream near or water source for the property, I wonder.  Good wine in any case.

Then a 2008 Maison de Grand Espirit Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru ‘La Belle Voisine’, made by Frederic Magnien.  Sealed in screwcap.  A bit of digging found this the be a joint venture wine between the French and the Aussies – Treasury Wine Estates/Fosters to be a little more exact.  Here’ they’re sourcing classic and elite appellations in France, having the wine made by honest French folk, and sending it around the world, especially to Australia.  How clever is that?  Unfortunately this particular bottling a little light, cool and acidic.  True to type for the vintage, but maybe too accessible, a concession for the modern and international palate?