In the search for the world’s best white wine, our travels take us to White Bordeaux. We all know it for Sauvignon/Semillon blends with the emphasis on Sauvignon Blanc, but what if we focused on Semillon. Semillon wine can be full-bodied like Chardonnay but has flavors closer to Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc and often are rich and creamy with hints of lemon. Often a blender grape with Sauvignon Blanc, in Bordeaux, it is the principal grape in the Sauternes region famous for their botrytis dessert wines. It is here, in Sauternes Bordeaux, that we find a magnificent dry white wine by Clos des Lunes.

Clos des Lunes first saw the light of day in 2011 when the owner, MAAF Assurance, sold off several properties, including a little-known Sauternes estate named Château Haut Caplane. Olivier Bernard, the owner of Domaine de Chevalier, snapped it up, rechristened it Clos des Lunes, and established it as the base for a new dry-white project. This new brand comes from an exceptional terroir located between the Châteux d’Yquem and Guiraud. These soils are not only known to be able to produce the best Sauternes but also tremendous dry white wines.  

 “A great wine originates from great fruit. It is the natural expression of a great terroir. Man simply reveals it… The terroir determines everything”, explains Olivier Bernard. 

All work in the Clos des Lunes vineyards is organic and self-sustaining vineyard farming techniques. The vines come from two complementary terroirs: the Sauternes terroir composed of deep gravel with underground springs that bring power to the wine, and the terroir of Bommes, composed of gravelly soils on the clay-limestone substrate which brings freshness to the wine. The 110-acre vineyard of Clos des Lunes is planted to 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are picked by hand at perfect maturity. A slow pneumatic pressing without destemming and without maceration, carried out by two presses coming from Domaine de Chevalier, allows an adjusted sequencing. The settling is done naturally by gravity in a cold room. Clos des Lunes “Lune d’Argent” is a blend of 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is aged in a combination of 25% new French oak barrels while the remaining 75% is aged on its lees in stainless steel tanks for between 6 to 7 months. The property refers to this as their La Grande Cuvee’! On average, the production of this great, white Bordeaux value wine is close to 6,500 cases per vintage.

Located in Sauternes, on one of the greatest white wine terroirs in France, the Clos des Lunes is a magnificent rolling vineyard planted with old sémillon and sauvignon blanc vines. On very old vines, some perfectly golden clusters are chosen and delicately sorted grape by grape by expert hands.

Intense and complex nose of exotic white fruits and citrus fruit mixed with floral notes of linden and acacia. The palate is rich, generous, ample, and intensely fruity, with very good tension. The Sauvignon Blanc lemon juice delicately coats the exotic sweetness (lychee, mango) of the well-ripe Semillon. Mineral notes bring good salinity added to this cocktail to serve a beautiful finish. The concentration of white fruits, mineral freshness, and righteousness.

Blend: 70% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc

The 2022 Clos Des Lunes Lune D’Argent Blanc is a pure, balanced, medium to full-bodied white with clean citrus and floral aromatics, a good spine of acidity, and a clean, lengthy finish. It’s a classy Bordeaux Blanc based largely on Sémillon. Jeb Dunnuck 92 pts

Fine reduction with flint and matchstick characters that protect the creamed citrus. Pretty full-bodied and broad at the start with a lightly phenolic middle and a flavorful, saline finish. 70% semillon and 30% sauvignon. James Suckling 92 pts

The 2022 Lune d’Argent shows notable richness, very much in the style of the year. Orchard fruit, white flowers, mint and tangerine. Pear, mint and chamomile open effortlessly. In 2022, Lune d’Argent offers quite a bit of presence, making it a terrific choice for the dinner table. Readers should expect a rich, layered Sauvignon Blanc. Pretty floral notes liven up the finish. Vinous 92 pts

This fresh version offers mirabelle plum, quinine and honeysuckle notes that stay bright and nicely defined through the energetic, salted butter–tinged finish. Wine Spectator 90 pts

Cool and crisp, clean and nicely weighted on the palate with some creamy and chalky lemon, pear and apricot. An easy-drinking style with nuance and freshness. Lacks a touch of weight and zing, but there’s an appealing bitter lemon rind with apricot and peach flavors. Feels clean. Decanter 90 pts

Clos des Lunes Lune d'Argent 2022

We all were curious about Olivier Bernard, Director of Domaine de Chevalier’s side project, Clos des Lunes, a dry wine from Sauternes. What really drew us to this wine is that it is predominantly Semillon, with Sauvignon Blanc playing the complementary bit role. Like so many, I do love a good Semillon with its fleshy mouthfeel and full body, whether the grape is grown in Washington State, Australia, or its place of origin, Bordeaux, France. This one is a little odd in that it is a dry wine from a region known for its desert wines. The wine poured a brilliant golden straw color with hints of green. First aromas were of briny sea shells and green olives with hints of Meyer Lemon. Flavors continued in the mouth with a fleshy texture, green apple, slightly herbaceous with chamomile, sage, fennel root, butternut squash, lemon curd, and Himalayan sea salt with a significant acid component that kept all the flavors ordered. The wine opened up nicely in an hour. A long textured, lime zest finish. We thought this wine would be very versatile with many dishes, like any fish dish, shellfish, sushi, or even more decadent poultry creations. But it probably would go best with good friends, anytime, anywhere. We all concluded this is a great white Bordeaux that compares easily to wines at twice the price. Dena thought this wine would appeal to all the Elin Hilderbrand fans out there. This wine was part of our Bordeaux Futures shipment; the price is low, but the quantities are limited. Don’t snooze, then whine (wine?) about it later when we sell out.

Regular Price: $18.99

*Sale price is on 6 or more bottle purchase

Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case

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We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.

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—John Hannum, Fine & Rare Wine Specialist

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