2013 Atlantique Blanc “Définition”

A couple years ago Daniel Alibrand told me how he once threatened to smash a bottle of his wine over a retailer’s head who refused to give it a try. “That way,” he told me, “he’d be sure to have a taste!” Daniel is a peaceful guy, but times were tough back then. Nobody wanted to hear about Bordeaux, especially an estate based in Sauternes. It was just not hip enough for the too-cool-for-school crowd. As a result, the bank threatened to take the Alibrands’ land and house, all while their first child was due any day. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and Daniel began insisting—short of breaking bottles on anyone—that people just try it and see. That’s all it took. To try Alliance is to drink Alliance. Whether his sweet Sauternes or this bone-dry, unusual, and inviting blanc, his wines are nothing short of addictive. Once people gave it a whirl, they all came back for more, and the rest is history. –Chris Santini

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• Vintage 2013
• Bottle Size 750mL
• Blend 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 50% Sémillon
• Appellation Vin de France
• Country France
• Region Bordeaux
• Vineyard Average of 50 years
• Soil Gravel, Clay, Sand
• Winemaker Valérie & Daniel Alibrand
• Aging Vinified in barrels that have seen at least three passages of wine, raised sur lie with regular stirring of the lees for a year before bottling
• Farming Organic
• Alcohol 14%