2018 Monbousquet Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Blanc d'Exception is bright, airy and beautifully lifted. Dried pear, white flowers, pineapple and ginger lend a very pretty exotic flair. The move towards picking a bit earlier helps retain freshness, but there is plenty of the richness readers have come to expect.
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Average Score
James Suckling
Neal Martin
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The Monbousquet 2018 Blanc is composed of 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Gris, 5% Sémillon and 5% Muscadelle. It has 13.75% alcohol and a 3.37 pH. The nose is fairly closed to begin, needing a good bit of air to unlock notions of white peaches, honeydew melon, fresh pears and yellow apple with wafts of white pepper, oyster shell and honeysuckle. The palate is medium-bodied with a refreshing line carrying the chalk and apple inspired elements to a long, savory finish.
The 2018 Monbousquet Blanc, bottled at the end June 2019, has an attractive bouquet with scents of dried white flowers, hints of honeycomb and peach. Maybe a notch more tropical than the previous vintage? The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp opening. A little waxy in texture with ginger, pear and citrus notes, leading to a nicely proportioned finish that is spicier than 2017. Good potential.
The 2018 Chateau Monbousquet Blanc is a beauty that offers lots of pear and pineapple notes as well as plenty of spice in a clean, medium-bodied, balanced style that carries plenty of depth. It's a refreshing white that also has plenty of body and richness.