A white wine from Pichon Comtesse in the offing?

A little plot of land at Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande could soon be planted with white varieties as part of a small experiment by its winemaker.

Speaking to the drinks business at an event in London on 7 September, CEO and winemaker at the estate, Nicolas Glumineau, mentioned that there was a little one-hectare plot recently grubbed up that he’d like to plant some white varieties on.

Situated on a slight slope he said that, if the project went ahead, he’d like to plant Sauvignon Blanc at the bottom, Semillon at the top and either Chardonnay or Chenin in the middle – “because I love Chenin,” he admitted.

Although any Chenin or Chardonnay would not permitted to be labelled as AOC Bordeaux, it could be either IGP Atlantique or Vin de France – the point is, “I could do what I like with it,” said Glumineau, clearly eager at the prospect of being able to try his hand at something different.

He added that the vines would be planted on rootstocks “that work for both red and white [varieties] so we can graft if we don’t like the results.”

Not that there’s any hint white wines from the plot would ever be sold commercially either and even if they are one day, it will take at least 10 years before anything emerges.

As Glumineau explained, the land first needs to lie fallow for a few years and then after planting another three years or so for the vines to start producing and upwards of four or fives year of making wine to see what the results are like.