A few wine related things probably not right on the lips of many of us, but as I like to point out, ones that certainly should be….

White Bordeaux and Olivier Bernard are most likely words that have passed thru your vocabulary lately...Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Domaine de Chevalier perhaps a little more probable, but if all of these words seem foreign to you (they are foreign; French, of course) then you need to swing past your local ABC Fine Wine & Spirits shop and look for the new offerings I am prescribing.

Bordeaux is the largest AOP producer in France and the most famous wine region on the planet. Most of us equate Bordeaux with red wines, many of the most collectable and famous in the world (think PETRUS, LAFITE, LATOUR, MARGAUX, MOUTON, HAUT-BRION) but less of us are aware that Bordeaux is also world renowned for its sweet white wines and the dry whites as well. Sauternes, and her shining star Ch. d’Yquem, have been collected for a few hundred years, including by such luminaries as Thomas Jefferson, during his stint as ambassador to France (before his other well-known job, president). The least known of Bordeaux is the Bordeaux blanc sec, or the dry whites. Like Sauternes, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon with a dab of Muscadelle, these wines are world class whites of breeding, age ability and finesse. Most are made at the same facility as the Cru Classe vin rouge, such as Ch. Haut-Brion blanc, Ch. Smith Haut-Lafitte blanc and Domaine de Chevalier blanc, among many others.

Domaine de Chevalier is owned by Olivier Bernard, who in addition to his recent unprecedented success at Chevalier, has moved into producing a trio of spectacular dry whites separate from the Domaine, under the Clos des Lunes label. The vineyards are located in the appellation Sauternes, with the focus on producing dry white wine. The three wines are all quite stunning, yet quite different in style from one another. I had the pleasure of tasting not only these three cuvees last year at the Domaine de Chevalier, but at lunch with Olivier Barnard on my 50th birthday!  He also opened a small collection of older gems and the day was simply spectacular! We offer two of these gems currently, including the Lune Blanche (white moon) and the d’Argent (silver moon) both which deserve your attention! All three cuvee’s are a blend of 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon; the difference between these three cuvee’s will be the ageing program, the depth of fruit and complexity, and the quantity produced.

CLOS des LUNES ‘Lune Blanche’ 2012 ($17.99 ) The Blanche is made for immediate pleasure and offers freshness of aroma and fruit. Crisp and clean, with vibrant aromas and flavors, with a hint of pit fruit and white peach.

CLOS des LUNES ‘Lune d’Argent’ 2012 ($19.99 ) The cuvee d’Argent contains the same blend, with more obvious barrel age to add complexity and roundness. A wine with more depth and weight.

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida wine supervisor.

Follow me on Twitter @abcwineshayne.