Bordeaux
One of the world's most delicate wines are made in the Bordeaux region. The character and finesse of the best Bordeaux wines in unique. Bordeaux is seen as an example all over the world, using the grape varieties cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. And even the white wines are among the best in the world, wines made from sauvignon blanc and semillion. Both sweet and dry, these wines are leading the way.
The best Bordeaux wines
One of the world's most delicate wines are made in the Bordeaux region. The character and finesse of the best Bordeaux wines in unique. Bordeaux is seen as an example all over the world, using the grape varieties cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. And even the white wines are among the best in the world, wines made from sauvignon blanc and semillion. Both sweet and dry, these wines are leading the way.
In addition to their complexity and strength, Bordeaux wines are best known for their elegance, their terroir and style: a flavour profile that is unique in the world and typical of every region within bordeaux. The fact that each region has its specific characteristics and style has to do with the terroir, the soil condition in combination with the location of the vineyards and the climate. Winemakers make full use of this combination. This together with the centuries of knowledge and experience ensures that every Bordeaux is different and unique. Whereas in napa valley in a large area, for example, various red wines can be very similar, the taste profile of two Bordeaux wines that are only a few hundred meters apart can vary enormously.
Bordeaux is characterised by its long shelf life. The best wines from Bordeaux are only drunk after 10 years or more and in many cases can still be drunk with pleasure after 30 years or more. They then develop a taste that can only be achieved through decades of maturation. Examples of these kinds of wines a few over. At Best of Wines these wines are drunk weekly, a fine example of a Bordeaux wine that developed a unique taste after long maturation is the Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1870.
The climate and soils of Bordeaux
The Bordeaux wine region is unique in its diversity of soils, containing comprising gravel, clay, limestone, and sandy mixtures. It defines each wine, which can make wines from even neighbouring estates very different.
On the Bordeaux Left Bank, gravelly soils predominate, offering superb drainage and heat retention. These characteristics are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, so roots can reach deep for nourishment and helping berries mature slowly, which supports the intensity of flavors and tannins.
On the Bordeaux Right Bank, the soils are characterized by clay and limestone soils, which holds moisture and provide a cooler substrate. These soils favor Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which gives softer, fruit-driven wines.
The climate in Bordeaux is defined by its location between the Atlantic Ocean and two major rivers, the Garonne and Dordogne. It can be seen as a kind of maritime climate with mild winters, warm summers, and average rainfall, which ensures steady grape growing conditions and ripening and minimizes vintage variability. Occasional Atlantic storms and humidity can be challenging.
The interplay of soil and climate in Bordeaux has made the selection of which grapes to grow and the final blending of utmost importancy. Gravel soils produce structured, long-lived reds, while clay-limestone areas yield rounder, approachable wines.
The unique terroir of Bordeaux makes the wines one of a kind. The wines are of a are of exceptional balance, depth, and complexity and above all, terroir driven.
Grapes in wines from Bordeaux
Most of the grapes used in Bordeaux for red wines are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Other grapes grown are: Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec..
For white wines this is the Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle. And in very small amounts Colombard, Sauvignon Gris and Ugni Blanc.
What are the best red and white wines from Bordeaux
The best Bordeaux wines can be followed in both the qualification of the left bank and the right bank wines, although of course there is room for discussion. As, amongst others, it is also a matter of preference.
On the Bordeaux left bank the best wines are the premier cru wines:
- Chateau Margaux
- Chateau Latour
- Chateau Mouton Rothschild
- Chateau Lafite Rothschild
- Chateau Haut Brion
On the Bordeaux right bank, the best wines are:
The best dessert or sweet wines of Bordeaux
Bordeaux is not only world famous for its best red and white wines. The sweet white wines can also be counted among the very best in the world.
The Sauternes and Barsac region supplies these beautiful wines that can easily age 50 or over without loss of quality. The grapes are harvested late after they have been affected by Botrytis, noble rotting. The harvest volume is low, the sugar content is high and the concentration is enormous. The value for money of these wines is often fantastic.
From the Sauternes/Barsac the best wines are, amongst others:
What are the most expensive wines from Bordeaux?
It will not be surprising that this list is very similar to the list of the best wines.
The most expensive wines from Bordeaux are:
- Chateau Petrus
- Chateau le Pin
- Chateau Cheval Blanc
- Chateau Margaux
- Chateau Latour
- Chateau Mouton Rothschild
- Chateau Lafite Rothschild
- Chateau Haut Brion
- Chateau Ausone
- Château Lafleur
Appelations in the Bordeaux
As in Burgundy, only certain grape varieties (amongst others, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, petit verdot, sauvignon blanc and sémillon) may be used in Bordeaux for wines with appellation.
The Bordeaux has the following appellations:
- Appellation Bordeaux Contrôlée: the wine comes from bordeaux.
- Appellation <area>Contrôlée: the wine comes from a certain area of bordeaux. For example Appellation Haut Medoc Contrôlée: the wine comes from the Haut Medoc area.
- Appellation <municipality>Contrôlée: the wine comes from a certain municipality.within a certain area. For example Appellation Margaux Contrôlée: the wine comes from the municipality Margaux.
- In addition to the general appellations, bordeaux also has, analogous to Burgundy, local appellations, to distinguish the best vineyards in this area. Here, however, there is a clear distinction between the vineyards on the left bank of the Gironde (from Medoc to Graves/Sauternes) and the right bank of the Gironde. On the left bank the following appellations are used: premier (1st) grand cru, deuxième (2nd) grand cru, troisième (3rd) grand cru, quatrième (4th) grand cru, cinquième (5th) grand cru and cru Bourgeois. The grand cru subdivision was established in 1855 and has not changed since! The Premier grand cru's are still the absolute top of Bordeaux, the other crus don't always live up to their cru status anymore. The cru Bourgeois is of more recent date.
Appellations on the right bank are the general area-appellations, such as the Appellation Pomerol Contrôlée. In the appelation of St. Emilion, however, a very own system has been developed, which is redeveloped every ten years. The summit in St. Emilion consists of two premier cru classes A wines. This is followed by a number of premier grand cru classes B and grand cru classes. In addition, there are many grand cru wines, which are generally anything but distinguished. This is in contrast to the grand cru wines of Burgundy.
Where in Burgundy the vineyards several owners, the Bordeaux is organized differently. In bordeaux, vineyards belong to one chateau. The chateau can be given a cru status with its vineyards.
The Bordeaux classification of 1855
In 1855, the best Bordeaux wines were classified. The so-called First Growths were considered the best wines.
First-Growths / Premières Crus
Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
Château Latour Pauillac
Château Margaux Margaux
Château Haut-Brion Pessac, Graves (since 1986, Pessac-Léognan)
Chateau Mouton Rothschild (since 1973, before that second growth)
Second-Growths / Deuxièmes Crus
Château Rausan-Ségla (Rauzan-Ségla) Margaux
Château Rauzan-Gassies Margaux
Château Léoville Las Cases St.-Julien
Château Léoville Poyferré St.-Julien
Château Léoville Barton St.-Julien
Château Durfort-Vivens Margaux
Château Gruaud-Larose St.-Julien
Château Lascombes Margaux
Château Brane-Cantenac Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Pauillac
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (Pichon Longueville Lalande) Pauillac
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou St.-Julien
Château Cos-d'Estournel St.-Estèphe
Château Montrose St.-Estèphe
Third-Growths / Troisièmes Crus
Château Kirwan Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château d'Issan Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Lagrange St.-Julien
Château Langoa Barton St.-Julien
Château Giscours Labarde-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Malescot-St.-Exupéry Margaux
Château Cantenac-Brown Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Boyd-Cantenac Margaux
Château Palmer Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château La Lagune Ludon (Haut-Médoc)
Château Desmirail Margaux
Château Calon-Ségur St.-Estèphe
Château Ferrière Margaux
Château Marquis-d'Alesme-Becker Margaux
Fourth-Growths / Quatrièmes Crus
Château St.-Pierre St.-Julien
Château Talbot St.-Julien
Château Branaire-Ducru St.-Julien
Château Duhart-Milon Rothschild Pauillac
Château Pouget Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château La Tour Carnet St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
Château Lafon-Rochet St.-Estèphe
Château Beychevelle St.-Julien
Château Prieuré-Lichine Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Marquis de Terme Margaux
Fifth-Growths / Cinquièmes Crus
Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac
Château Batailley Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse Pauillac
Château Lynch Bages Pauillac
Château Lynch-Moussas Pauillac
Château Dauzac Labarde (Margaux)
Château Mouton-Baronne-Philippe (Château d'Armailhac after 1989) Pauillac
Château du Tertre Arsac (Margaux)
Château Haut-Bages Libéral Pauillac
Château Pédesclaux Pauillac
Château Belgrave St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
Château Camensac (Château de Camensac) St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
Château Cos Labory St.-Estèphe
Château Clerc Milon Pauillac
Château Croizet-Bages Pauillac
Château Cantemerle Macau (Haut-Médoc)
Since then, this classification has not changed, which is of course special, as a lot has changed. For example, some fifth growths could be a second growth effortlessly, if price and popularity are looked at and vice versa.
The above classification consists exclusively of wines from the left bank of bordeaux. The left bank of the Gironde. These are the areas with the appleations Pauillac, St. Julien, St. Estephe, Margaux, Graves, Haut Medoc. But the Bordeaux consists of two large and important areas. Because besides the left bank there is also the right bank with the famous appelations and regions St. Emillion and Pomerol.
The difference between the left and right banks is mainly the terroir and the grape varieties used. On the left bank more Cabernet Sauvignon is used, on the right bank lake Merlot.
The Bordeaux classification of St. Emillion
There is also a qualification on the right bank (which can, however, change).
Premiers Grands Crus Classés A
Château Angelus (A)
Château Ausone (A)
Château Cheval Blanc (A)
Château Pavie (A)
Premiers Grands Crus Classés B
Château Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse
Château Beau-Sejour Becot
Château Belair-Monange
Château Canon
Château Canon La Gaffeliere
Château Figeac
Clos Fourtet
Château La Gaffeliere
Château Larcis Ducasse
La Mondotte
Château Pavie Macquin
Château Troplong Mondot
Château Trotte Vieille
Valandraud
Grands Crus Classés (some examples)
Château L’Arrosee
Château Barde Haut
Château Bellefont-Belcier
Château Bellevue
Château Couvent des Jacobins
Château La Dominique
Château Faugeres
Château de Ferrand
Château Fleur Cardinale
Château Fombrauge
Château Fonplegade
Château Fonroque
Château Grand Mayne
Clos des Jacobins
Château Monbousquet
Château Pavie Decesse
Château Quinault L’Enclos
Château Soutard
Château Tertre Daugay
Château La Tour Figeac
Château Yon-Figeac
There is no classification for Pomerol. And that is remarkable, because the biggest star and probably the best Bordeaux wine is missing: Chateau Petrus.
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