Dubourdieu, Clos Floridene Graves Blanc, 2020
Dubourdieu, Clos Floridene Graves Blanc, 2020
- White Still
- 75CL
- 13%
- Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
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Clos Floridène is the white Graves flagship of the late Denis Dubourdieu, one of Bordeaux's most influential oenologists, and his wife Florence. Sourced from clay-limestone and gravel soils in the southern Graves appellation near Pujols-sur-Ciron, it blends Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon — a combination Dubourdieu refined over decades to produce a white Bordeaux of genuine depth and age-worthiness.
The 2020 vintage brought warm, dry conditions that concentrated flavour while retaining freshness, and this wine rewards attention: precise, textured, and structured rather than simply aromatic.
At six years old, Clos Floridène Blanc 2020 drinks well with food and will continue to develop until 2032, gaining more honeyed, lanolin character as it ages. This is a serious white Graves at a price point that still makes it one of the appellation's most compelling over-performers.
What the critics say:
"Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Fine yellow apple fruit, a hint of mango and meadow herbs, with some orange zest underneath. Medium-bodied, white apple, freshly structured, mineral-citric finish, lingers, shows much finesse."
"The 2020 Clos Floridène Blanc is exquisite. Bright, creamy and perfumed, Clos Floridène is a winner. Gentle hints of apricot, spice, chamomile, spice and lemon confit all grace this impeccably balanced white from the Dubourdieu family."
Tasting Notes
AppearanceBright, pale gold with a faint green rim, clear and luminous in the glass.
NoseWhite grapefruit, preserved lemon, and nectarine lead, with a waxy, lanolin character emerging underneath. There is a subtle oak influence — toasted almond and light vanilla — that integrates rather than dominates, alongside a mineral, flinty undercurrent.
PalateThe entry is fresh and precise, with citrus and stone fruit framed by a clean, saline acidity. Sémillon adds weight and a slightly oily texture to the mid-palate, giving the wine genuine presence without heaviness. The oak sits in the background, lending structure rather than flavour.
FinishLong and mineral, with a pleasing grip of acidity and a faint echo of white peach and lemon zest.
Overall impressionA wine of real composure — textured and precise, with the structure to continue developing over the next five or six years.
Food Pairings
In the Graves and wider Bordeaux region, dry whites like Clos Floridène are classic partners for the local estuary seafood — particularly oysters from Arcachon Bay, grilled langoustines with a little butter, and freshwater crayfish. Further inland, locals pair structured Graves Blanc with roast chicken served with cream and morel sauces, or with grilled river fish such as shad or pike. Goat's cheeses from the Périgord are another natural match, as are simple preparations of asparagus, which can be tricky for many wines but work well against the wine's herbaceous edge.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 11–13°C — cold enough to preserve freshness but warm enough to allow the Sémillon's texture to show. No decanting is needed for the 2020 at this stage, though letting it breathe for 15 minutes in the glass will open up the nose. A wide-bowled white wine glass — a Burgundy-style tulip rather than a narrow Sauvignon Blanc glass — gives the wine space to express its weight and aromatic complexity.
The Clos Floridène vineyards sit in the southern Graves, close to the Ciron river near Pujols-sur-Ciron, where the soils shift between gravel over clay-limestone subsoils — a combination that provides both drainage and moisture retention through dry summers. The proximity to the Ciron creates morning mists that moderate ripening and help retain natural acidity in the grapes. This combination of warm days, cool nights, and humidity-regulating river influence is central to the wine's balance of richness and freshness.
Graves Blanc is a Bordeaux AOC covering dry white wines produced from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle across the left bank south of the city. The appellation takes its name from the gravelly soils that characterise much of the area, though soils vary considerably from north to south. Graves whites sit stylistically between the more aromatic, less age-worthy Bordeaux Blanc and the richer, oak-influenced whites of Pessac-Léognan — which was carved out of Graves in 1987 and holds the classified growths. A well-made Graves Blanc like Clos Floridène occupies a particularly interesting position: more structured and cellar-worthy than most Bordeaux Blanc, but often better value than its Pessac-Léognan neighbours.
The 2020 Bordeaux vintage began with a wet winter that replenished water reserves after several dry years, followed by a warm, dry spring that encouraged early budbreak. A crucial dry spell during flowering ensured good fruit set, whilst the summer brought consistent warmth without excessive heat. September delivered ideal harvest conditions with cool nights preserving acidity and warm days concentrating flavours. The extended growing season allowed for careful selection, with many estates picking later than usual to achieve optimal ripeness across both banks.
This vintage produced wines of exceptional quality, with both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon performing admirably. The Left Bank Cabernets show impressive structure and depth, whilst Right Bank Merlots display rich fruit concentration balanced by fresh acidity. The wines combine power with elegance, offering approachable tannins that suggest earlier drinking potential than many recent vintages. Most 2020 Bordeaux will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring to fully integrate, though the finest examples will reward patient collectors with 15-20 years of development ahead.
FAQs
What grape varieties are used in Clos Floridène Blanc?
Clos Floridène Blanc is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, the classic Graves white combination. The Sauvignon Blanc provides aromatic definition and acidity, while Sémillon contributes weight, texture, and the capacity to age. The precise split varies by vintage, but Sauvignon Blanc typically makes up the larger share.
How does the 2020 vintage compare to other recent years?
2020 was a warm, dry vintage across Bordeaux that produced concentrated, ripe whites with good structure. For Graves Blanc, it delivered wines with more body and fruit intensity than the cooler 2021, while retaining sufficient acidity for ageing. It is widely considered one of the stronger recent vintages for white Graves.
Is this wine ready to drink now, or should I cellar it?
Clos Floridène Blanc 2020 drinks well now, particularly alongside food. The primary fruit is still lively and the oak has integrated well. That said, it will gain in complexity over the next three to five years as Sémillon-driven secondary characters — beeswax, lanolin, preserved citrus — begin to emerge. Buying a case and opening bottles over time is a sensible approach.
How does Clos Floridène compare to Pessac-Léognan whites?
Clos Floridène sits just outside the Pessac-Léognan boundary, which means it falls under the broader Graves appellation. In terms of quality and style, however, it punches well above its appellation status — the Dubourdieu family's reputation and the vineyard's soils produce a wine that rivals many classified Pessac-Léognan whites, typically at a lower price point.
What food works best with this wine?
Clos Floridène Blanc 2020 is at its best alongside seafood — langoustines, scallops, grilled sea bass, and oysters all work particularly well. It also pairs convincingly with roast chicken in a cream sauce, asparagus dishes, and fresh goat's cheese. The wine's texture and weight mean it can handle richer preparations that would overwhelm a leaner Sauvignon Blanc.
Should I serve this wine in a particular glass?
A wide-bowled white wine glass — similar to those used for white Burgundy — suits this wine better than a narrow Sauvignon Blanc glass. The broader bowl allows the Sémillon's texture and aromatic complexity to open up. Serve at 11–13°C; anything colder will suppress the mid-palate weight that makes this wine interesting.
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