Entre Deux Mers from Bordeaux - Summer Solstice Wine

Entre Deux Mers – between the seas in Bordeaux

The solstice is all about balance, striding the first and last halves of the year, delineating the height of sunshine and the depth of darkness.  Entre Deux Mers literally means “between two seas” and it refers to the location of the Bordeaux vineyards that straddle the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers.  And, it’s the perfect summer solstice wine.  

Entre Deux Mers balances Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and more 

While the solstice is the highly anticipated – and in Pagan times, richly celebrated - midpoint between the first and last half of the year, the Bordeaux white Entre Deux Mers is also a balancing act.  But for this wine, it’s two great grapes that are dipping and swaying in time, like expert tango dancers: Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. This pair is sometimes joined by other members of the troupe: grapes like Muscadelle and Ugni Blanc.  

The harmonious marriage of white Bordeaux grapes

Like an old married couple who finish each other’s sentences, the grapes in Entre Deux Mers, are so beautifully blended, it’s hard to tell where one begins and the other ends. Together, they just work seamlessly.  Tangy Sauvignon Blanc contributes a happy, summer lemonade-stand optimism, with a bit of "pipi du chat" aggressive playfulness. Semillon is like the girlfriend who always keeps her man out of trouble.  This supple white wine provides sophistication, richness, and a bit more gravitas. If Muscadelle is added, it provides another layer of ethereal floral aromatics.  

Pair Entre Deux Mers with fish, soft cheese - or the longest sunset of the year

My local wine shop carries the well-priced Chateau Tour de Bonnet Entre Deux Mers and I enjoyed it with Camembert and the longest evening of the year.  With so much lemon flavor and zippy acidity, it will pair well with all the seafood dishes you can grill up this summer.  Sitting on an Adirondack chair and watching the sun dip slowly in the western sky, I had to conclude it was the perfect toast to the summer ahead.