Wine of the Week 4/12/22

Maison Schröder & Schÿler Chartron La Fleur Bordeaux 2020
Regularly $14.99/On Sale for $11.96

Maison Schröder & Schÿler is a negociant-éleveur founded in Bordeaux in 1739, making it one of the oldest family-owned companies of any kind in France! The role of the négociant appeared in the early 1600s for a variety of reasons; in its simplest form, the Château would grow, harvest, press, and barrel the wine, and the négociant would purchase the unfinished wine and do everything else, from aging and blending to bottling and selling. This afforded smaller houses (or houses that had no desire to be wine merchants) a way to thrive. Négociants have fallen in and out of favor over the years, but there have always been those that have had high standards for their wines, from their first-growths down to the humble Bordeaux Blanc.
Chartron La Fleur is the historic label of Schröder & Schÿler, and they produce a red and a white from hand-selected vineyards on their estates. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, vinified and aged in stainless steel for maximum freshness, this is a terrific example of the kind of skillful quality a company with almost 300 years of experience can bottle. Absolute textbook Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc. Stack a half-dozen of these in your fridge or cooler, and you’ll be ready for the heat!