Best Bordeaux 2019 wines: Top scoring whites
From more than 900 en primeur 2019 samples tasted overall, there are definite standouts in terms of quality and value in both dry white and sweet wine categories says Jane Anson. Here are her top scorers...
Search all the dry white and sweet 2019 wine ratings
In this year’s full En Primeur 2019 report Jane Anson said there are ‘some great sweet wines to choose from – and as ever some truly excellent dry whites.’
Scroll down to see tasting notes for the top-scoring white and sweet En Primeur 2019 wines
Sweet wines
In Sauternes, despite some producers experiencing problems with a quick onset of sour rot, many were able to successfully harvest the majority of grapes after excellent summer conditions. Botrytis cinerea eventually developed in early October, on already concentrated grapes, resulting in luscious flavours.
Anson said among the best sweet wine estates she found 2019 to be ‘not only rich and concentrated but also precise, with high aromatics and balanced overall’.
Two sweet wines were rated 98 points – Lafaurie Peyraguey and Extravagance de Doisy Daene, which Anson said were ‘both real standouts’, but there was also a good crop at 97 points and in total nine estates coming in at over 95 points.
Within the ‘strong buys’ at 94 points, Anson included Bastor Lamontagne, Haut Peyraguey and the dry white S de Suduiraut.
Dry whites
For the dry whites, there were several new additions tasted this year with Anson commenting that as a category they are ‘getting more and more popular with the big names, and are clearly on trend.’
New wines include La Tour Carnet’s dry white and one from Bastor-Lamontagne in Sauternes as well as the new ‘Pelican’ from Château Doyac in Haut Médoc and one from Paveil de Luze.
Over in the Côtes, Ad Francos has a new dry white, as does Plain-Point in Fronsac most of which are bottled as AOC Bordeaux Blanc.
Top scoring wines include Blanc de Cos d’Estournel rated 97 points, Château Margaux Pavillon Blanc and Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc at 96 points and with 95 points; Château Couhins-Lurton, Château Mouton Rothschild Aile d’Argent and Les Champs Libres.
Several Pessac-Léognan dry whites performed well with Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier and Château Pape Clément rated 94 points.
Anson also noted that there are increasing numbers of Chardonnay wines (labelled as Vin de France) to look out for, including Jean Luc Thunevin’s Bad Boy, as well as 100% single-varietal Sauvigon Blanc and Sémillon bottlings from Hubert de Boüard.
Another ‘fascinating’ dry white wine Anson has been following, with a different flavour profile to a classic Bordeaux white, is Vignobles Ducourt’s Métissage which is made from grape variety Cal 6-04, a cross of hybrid/vitis vinifera grapes to create a variety that is resistant to mildew and other vineyard issues and therefore needs less treatments.
Best Bordeaux 2019 white and sweet wines: Anson’s top scores
See all the wines rated 94 points and above
Search all Bordeaux 2019 En Primeur ratings published so far
Read Jane Anson’s full report on Bordeaux 2019 wines
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Château Doisy-Daëne, L'Extravagant, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2019
As ever with this wine, you wait for the hit of sweetness that seems inevitable when you see the name and instead you are surprised...
2019
Château Doisy-DaëneSauternes
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
They are doing such a great job at this estate, and this is an absolutely delicious wine. It is just dripping with apricot, nectarine, white...
2019
Château Lafaurie-PeyragueySauternes
Château Cos d'Estournel, Blanc de Cos d'Estournel, Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
One of the best Cos Blancs for years, this is a real return to form, a great white wine that has presence and impact. Fantastic...
2019
Château Cos d'EstournelBordeaux Blanc
Château Coutet, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Intense exotic fruits abound, powerful apricot, nectarine, white flowers and white truffles with excellent bitter almonds on the finish that works so well as a...
2019
Château CoutetSauternes
Château Haut-Brion, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Clear difference in personality from La Mission Blanc, tons of rich texture, but more pulled together, with the Sauvignon making its mark. Feels poised at...
2019
Château Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château de Fargues, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Easy to get a crush on this wine in 2019. Expertly whipped up ginger and spice pulses right across the palate, giving a counterpoint to...
2019
Château de FarguesSauternes
Château Doisy-Védrines, Sauternes, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
This is a vintage that really suits the Barsac wines, because they have the concentration and richess that is inevitable with the heat and small...
2019
Château Doisy-VédrinesSauternes
Château Doisy-Daëne, Sauternes, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
I love this, the flavors are utterly moreish and mouthfilling, tons of creamy lemon tart, flaky pastry against rich nectarine, tart citrus and lime flavours....
2019
Château Doisy-DaëneSauternes
Château Margaux, Pavillon Blanc, Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Grip and balance with clear flesh to the white peach, pear and citrus fruit and a saline finish. The flavours spiral down through your mouth,...
2019
Château MargauxBordeaux Blanc
Domaine de L'Alliance, Esquisse, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2019
I love this, it's the most beautiful tightrope balancing act of sweet nectarine flesh with intense lime and lemon zest. One of the best Sauternes...
2019
Domaine de L'AllianceSauternes
Château Suduiraut, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Full of pleasure, silky and richly textured, easy to sink into but carefully measured at the same time, addings its layers of spice and truffle...
2019
Château SuduirautSauternes
Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Appealing Semillon nuances on the nose (from the 5% in the blend), honeyed waxy lemons, peach, apricot and vanilla cream. Such a sumptuous texture, you...
2019
Château Smith Haut LafittePessac-Léognan
Château Guiraud, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
The freshness that you always get in Guiraud is particularly welcome among the rich style of Sauternes in 2019, and this is definitely one to...
2019
Château GuiraudSauternes
Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2019
A wonderful La Mission with a creamy feel through the core of the wine, and a saline tang on the finish that gives form and...
2019
Château La Mission Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Mouton Rothschild, Aile d'Argent, Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
You just know that Aile d'Argent is going to suit a vintage like this, where the warmth of the summer accentuates the rich apricot, white...
2019
Château Mouton RothschildBordeaux Blanc
Château Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Finely balanced between richly textured and restrained savoury white pear and citrus fruits. Walks the line between the two, far more successful to my taste...
2019
Château Pape ClémentPessac-Léognan
Château Raymond-Lafon, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Enticingly golden colour, rich concentration on the attack which gives way to perfectly-judged balance of fresh acidities and creamy nectarine and white peach fruits. Silky...
2019
Château Raymond-LafonSauternes
Château Couhins-Lurton, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Always a brilliant white wine, one of the leading examples in Pessac-Léognan, and it's excelling in 2019. Juicy but restrained lemon, lemon zest and stone...
2019
Château Couhins-LurtonPessac-Léognan
Château Sigalas Rabaud, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
This is a great Sauternes, an expert mix of rich creamy stone fruits and deep candied ginger notes that add the most beautiful spice and...
2019
Château Sigalas RabaudSauternes
Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Crisp and bright Sauvignon character but with added depth, flesh and mouthfeel that comes across in a lovely expansion through the mid palate, and slate...
2019
Château Malartic-LagravièrePessac-Léognan
Château Suduiraut, S de Suduiraut, Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Another well-controlled, sappy and energetic white wine from the Suduiraut stable. This is from old vines on the estate, and has a tang of minerality...
2019
Château SuduirautBordeaux Blanc
Château Bastor-Lamontagne, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Named after Chevalier de la Montaigne, a councillor of the Bordeaux Parliament in the early 18th century, Château Bastor-Lamontagne is now under the ownership of...
2019
Château Bastor-LamontagneSauternes
Château Olivier, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Flourishes of jasmine on the first nose, quickly giving way to richly textured stone fruits, citrus and white pepper spicing. Well measured and balanced, with...
2019
Château OlivierPessac-Léognan
Château Valandraud, Valandraud Blanc, Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
A rich and layered white that sits at the level you would expect from a classified estate. Apricot and stone fruits abound, with creamy caramel...
2019
Château ValandraudBordeaux Blanc