Dourthe-Terroirs d’Exception

About Dourthe-Terroirs d’Exception

Dourthe is an established Bordeaux house, founded in 1840, working both with its own estates and with a broad network of growers. Dourthe-Terroirs d’Exception puts that regional approach at the centre: the name denotes wines selected for their origin and appellation rather than wines from one single château. For drinkers, it offers a useful introduction to several faces of Bordeaux, from dry white wine to reds from Graves and Saint-Émilion.

Bordeaux is shaped by the Atlantic Ocean and by the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde waterways. Its temperate, at times humid climate makes attentive vineyard and cellar work essential. Soils vary markedly by place. Graves takes its name from gravelly deposits, which retain warmth and generally drain well. Saint-Émilion is more varied, with limestone, clay and sand among its principal soil types; clay and limestone in particular are a familiar setting for Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

The three wines listed in this selection make those distinctions tangible. Croix des Bouquets Graves is a red Graves, an appellation where Bordeaux varieties often aim for a balance of ripe fruit, structure, and earthy or savoury notes. Croix des Menuts Saint-Émilion belongs to the Right Bank idiom: Merlot commonly supplies supple red and dark-fruit character, while Cabernet Franc can bring freshness, floral detail and lift. The exact blend and maturation choices may vary with the vintage.

Roqueblanche Sauvignon Blanc represents dry white Bordeaux. Sauvignon Blanc usually contributes citrus, gooseberry, white peach or green-herb notes, alongside brisk acidity. Sémillon, its traditional regional partner, can lend breadth and a softer texture. Taken together, Terroirs d’Exception is about recognisable Bordeaux appellations and a clear, approachable expression of their soils and grapes. These wines are comfortable at the table and especially useful for anyone wishing to taste the stylistic contrasts within Bordeaux.

• Dourthe was founded in 1840.
• The range focuses on Bordeaux origins and appellations.
• Graves is noted for gravel-rich soils.
• Saint-Émilion is on Bordeaux’s Right Bank.
• Merlot and Cabernet Franc are key Saint-Émilion varieties.