Black & Wine Blanc de Noirs, Vin de France 2023

A white made purely from merlot grapes grown to the east of Bordeaux, the wine is dry with good fruit concentration and depth of flavour. It displays notes of green apple, brambles and a hint of brioche on the finish. Pair with white meat such as roast chicken, or seafood and ceviche. Made by an association of 10 cooperatives in the Entre-Deux-Mers and Duras regions, this is the first vintage of an innovative dry blanc de noir made from merlot. The wine has been developed in response to the critical situation that many growers face in this part of France, with prices for red grapes dropping below cost of production. It is hoped that this style of wine will become a lifeline for embattled producers across Bordeaux and its neighbouring appellations. The merlot grapes are very gently pressed in order to avoid extracting colour from the dark skins, and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. The result is delicious, producing a wine with plenty of body and breadth, yet with a dry, mineral texture. Winners of our 2024 Climate & Nature fund, this co-operative has a strong commitment to encouraging environmentally friendly and economically viable grape growing among its members. They are keen to test and apply increasingly more regenerative agricultural practices, like hydroseeding, throughout their vineyards.