Clos Floridene, Graves Rouge, 2019

Denis Dubourdieu, the legendary University of Bordeaux professor who revolutionized dry white winemaking, founded Clos Floridène in 1982 with his wife Florence—their combined names becoming the estate's identity. The property sits on the limestone plateau of Pujols sur Ciron near Barsac, an unusual terroir for Graves where most soils are gravelly. This limestone foundation creates distinctively mineral-driven, floral wines. The red is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (unusual for the region until 2001), fermented with gentle pigeage in stainless steel and aged 12 months in barrel. Denis believed in forcing vine roots deep into limestone bedrock for true terroir expression. The 2019 vintage was hot but the Graves appellation, with its cooler microclimates, handled it gracefully. This wine offers an alternative Bordeaux experience—limestone elegance rather than gravel power—from one of the region's most influential winemaking families.