Clarendelle Bordeaux Blanc. Pale gold bottle, Pessac-Léognan white wine. Available at The Wine Box Kenya, Nairobi.

Clarendelle Bordeaux Blanc 2023

In stock

Purchase this item and get 201 Points

KShs4,660 incl. of VAT

Order before 9PM for same day delivery within Nairobi. Next day delivery for orders outside Nairobi

Tasting Notes

Pale gold with green highlights. The nose is precise and layered. Initially, grapefruit, white peach and crushed oyster shell dominate. The gravel terroir signature is immediate. However, with a few minutes in the glass, lemon curd, white flowers and a faint beeswax note emerge from the lees contact. Furthermore, chalk dust, dried herbs and a trace of vanilla pod develop over time. On the palate, the wine is medium in weight. The entry is crisp and mouth-watering. Bright acidity carries flavours of green apple, quince and a hint of passion fruit through the mid-palate. Additionally, the 20% new French oak leaves a trace of toasted hazelnut and baking spice alongside the Sémillon’s waxy, almost honeyed texture. The finish is long and mineral. Crushed stone, grapefruit peel and a faint saline trace that persists for 35 seconds. This wine drinks well now.

Food Pairing

At 13% ABV and with medium body and bright acidity, this Bordeaux Blanc pairs with a wide range of dishes. Grilled sea bass with beurre blanc and oysters on the half shell are therefore the strongest matches. The wine’s mineral finish mirrors shellfish salinity, while the acidity cuts through cream cleanly. Additionally, roast chicken with tarragon, goat cheese salad and sushi work well at the table. The texture and depth suit dishes with fat, umami or delicate protein. For a Nairobi evening where the occasion calls for a white wine with genuine pedigree, this is the bottle that delivers. A business dinner, an anniversary lunch, or a gathering where the menu leans French. Serve at 10 to 12°C. No decanting required.

What You Need to Know:

What does this Bordeaux Blanc taste like compared to White Burgundy?
This shares the mineral drive and lees-derived texture of White Burgundy. However, the Sauvignon Blanc dominance gives more citrus and less hazelnut than Chardonnay-based Burgundy. It is consequently fresher and more immediately food-friendly. The Sémillon adds waxy body that bridges the gap between the two styles.
Is this too mineral for someone who usually drinks fruity New World whites?
If your reference is ripe, tropical Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, this will feel more restrained and more savoury. The gravel minerality and oyster shell notes are distinctive. It is consequently a different style entirely. Think of it as a food wine rather than an aperitif.
Should I drink this now or cellar it?
It drinks well now at 10 to 12°C. However, the acidity and lees-derived texture will integrate further through 2027. The optimal window is therefore 2025 to 2027. Not a long-term cellar candidate, but it will improve short-term.
What food works best with this Bordeaux Blanc?
Grilled sea bass with beurre blanc, oysters and roast chicken with tarragon are ideal. The bright acidity and mineral finish suit rich fish, shellfish and poultry with cream sauces. Additionally, goat cheese salad and sushi work for lighter occasions.
How does Pessac-Léognan differ from other Bordeaux white appellations?
Pessac-Léognan is the only subregion where white wines carry Grand Cru Classé status. The gravel soils give more mineral tension and ageing potential than the clay and limestone of Entre-Deux-Mers. It is consequently more structured and more food-driven than simple Bordeaux Blanc.
Does the natural cork affect ageing?
Natural cork allows gradual micro-oxygenation, which benefits textural development over 2 to 3 years. However, it carries a small risk of cork taint. Store horizontally in a cool, dark environment. For a wine intended for consumption within 3 years, the closure is traditional and appropriate.
What should I do if this bottle is out of stock?
Our customer service team can help you find a suitable alternative or source the product where possible. Reach out before your event.
How fast can I get this Bordeaux Blanc delivered in Nairobi?
Nairobi orders placed before 9 PM qualify for same-day delivery, typically completed within a 1-hour window. Free delivery applies to orders above KES 3,000 within Nairobi. Orders outside Nairobi are delivered nationwide across Kenya within 24 to 48 hours.
Vintage: Varieties:

Description

A white Bordeaux from the family behind Château Haut-Brion, now available in Nairobi, Kenya. The 2023 vintage delivers citrus precision and mineral drive through Sauvignon Blanc led fruit from Pessac-Léognan gravel soils.

Clarendelle is the second wine of Domaine Clarence Dillon, the family that owns Château Haut-Brion, La Mission Haut-Brion and Château Quintus. The 2023 Blanc sources from the same gravel terroir as these Grand Cru Classé estates. However, it is released earlier and at a fraction of the price. Consequently, it offers a genuine entry into one of Bordeaux’s most pedigreed addresses without the investment.
The 2023 growing season in Bordeaux was warm and dry. As a result, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon achieved full flavour ripeness while the Atlantic influence preserved acidity. Furthermore, the winemaking team employed fermentation in stainless steel and French oak barrels, 20% new. The stainless steel preserves citrus freshness. The oak adds texture and subtle spice. Six months on lees with batonnage builds mouthfeel without the heaviness of full malolactic fermentation.

Product Facts

Vintage: 2023
Producer: Clarendelle
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Vineyard: Gravel soils in Pessac-Léognan, influenced by the Garonne River
Grape Variety: 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon
Category: White Wine
Style: Medium bodied, mineral driven, food-friendly
ABV: 12.5%
Production Method: Hand harvested. Whole bunch pressed. Fermented in stainless steel and French oak barrels, 20% new. Aged 6 months on lees with batonnage
Closure: Natural cork
Serving Temperature: 10 to 12°C. No decanting required

About The Winery

Prince Robert of Luxembourg established Clarendelle in 2005 as the second wine of Domaine Clarence Dillon. The family has owned Château Haut-Brion since 1935, making them one of the longest-standing proprietors in Bordeaux. The approach is deliberate. Apply the same vineyard rigour and cellar standards that define the First Growth to a wine released earlier and at a more accessible price.
Pessac-Léognan is the only Bordeaux subregion where both red and white wines carry Grand Cru Classé status. The gravel soils, deposited by the Garonne River, provide the mineral backbone and drainage that define the appellation’s best whites. For buyers in Kenya, Clarendelle represents one of the most direct entry points into genuine First Growth terroir. A name that carries weight from Pessac to Nairobi.
Free Delivery

We provide FREE DELIVERY for orders above Kshs. 3,000 within Nairobi. Orders outside of Nairobi will attract delivery charges, which will be calculated based on the cart size and your location. Orders outside of Nairobi are delivered through a logistics partner Fargo Courier.

Delivery Countrywide

We deliver anywhere* in Kenya and Orders outside of Nairobi will attract delivery charges, which will be calculated based on the cart size and your location. Orders outside of Nairobi are delivered through a logistics partner Fargo Courier.

*Please note that conditions apply to deliveries to Lamu and some coastal regions.

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