Bordeaux Wine Guide

 

Bordeaux is seen as the greatest wine-growing region in France thanks to the exceptional production of its prestigious châteaux.

Bordeaux is an important wine region which consists of 12 000 hectares of vines, ten thousand wine producers and about fifty appellations. Since the eighteenth century, this land benefits from an international fame thanks to the renowned châteaux, the great Bordeaux wine estates.

The region has a mild oceanic climate that enjoys the warm influence of the Gulf Stream. Besides the slim risk of spring frost, the grapes have a long ripening period until October. However, the heavy rainfalls caused by the Atlantic Ocean's proximity lead to the development of rot. Bordeaux is characterized by the fluctuation of quality in vintages.

Wine regions in Bordeaux

The two rivers Dordogne and Garonne meet to form the Gironde Estuary and divide Bordeaux wine region in three areas:

  • In the west and the south, the Left Bank consists of Medoc (and its famous appellations of Margaux, Saint Estèphe, Saint Julien and Pauillac), Pessac-Léognan, Graves and AOC Sauternes.
  • Between the two rivers lies AOC Entre-Deux-Mers.
  • In the north and the east of the rivers lies the Right Bank with the Libournais (Saint-Emilion and Pomerol) and the Côtes de Bordeaux.

The Left Bank

North of the city of Bordeaux, on the Left Bank, Medoc is one of the biggest wine areas. It consists of Nord-Medoc whose wines are labeled AOC Medoc. South of the village of Saint-Estèphe, Haut-Médoc is the land of famed vineyards and Grands Crus classés: AOC Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux. The best Haut-Médoc wines are mostly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon. These structured wines balance tannins and acidity and reveal concentrated flavors of blackcurrant and complex notes of toasted bread. They can age well during a decade to develop notes of cedar and cigar.

South of Bordeaux, Graves is the other great wine area of the Left Bank. The best red wines, close in style to Haut-Médoc, come from AOC Pessac-Léognan which consists of all the Crus Classés. The gravelly soil allows growing Cabernet Sauvignon, this variety producing a lighter more fragrant wine than Haut-Médoc. The best Bordeaux dry white wines are also made in Pessac-Léognan. AOC Graves in the south produce red wines less complex with a bigger proportion of Merlot.

AOC Sauternes is just south of Graves, on the west bank of the Garonne river. The greatest sweet wines have a high alcohol level, a great concentration of sugar balanced by a crisp acidity. They reveal concentrated and complex flavors of orange marmalade, apricot, honey and vanilla.

The Right Bank

Libournais on the Right Bank is dominated by Merlot and has a few vineyards of Cabernet Franc. The vast AOC Saint-Emilion covers three types of soil. In the north and west of the village, the gravelly calcareous plateau is growing Cabernet Franc and a few Cabernet Sauvignon's vines because it is warm and well drained. The vineyards in the south and the east spread on a clay-limestone soil. These two soils of the plateau and slopes are the home of the prestigious wines and the few Grands Crus Classés. The rich and tannic wines have complex red fruits and plum aromas. On the sandy soil, the vines produce lighter wines. AOC Pomerol makes exceptional red wines with notes of blackberry, richer and spicier than the Saint-Emilion ones. 

AOC Côtes de Bordeaux is a recent appellation, which gathers the wines made in Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs. In the young red wines, Merlot is the dominant grape. 

Grape varieties in Bordeaux

Cabernet Sauvignon is most common in Left Bank's wine areas like Medoc and Graves because it can blossom on the gravelly rocky soils. It is the dominant grape of the great Bordeaux blend wines. The variety gives tannic red wines with fruity flavor of blackcurrant. When blend with Merlot it confers to the wine its color, fruity aromas and tannins. The best Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be kept for a few decades.   

Cabernet Franc is mainly cultivated in Saint-Emilion, a few vines can be found in Medoc and Graves. This variety produces lighter, less tannic and elegant than Cabernet Sauvignon. When the grape ripen plenly, it develop pronounced flavors essential in order to make excellent blend wines. Cabernet Franc blossoms on drained warm soils.

Merlot is the most common grape found in Bordeaux. With it the producers make medium-bodied wines, with fine tannins, reaching their peak earlier the Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Merlot confers to the blend wines richness and roundness. It is the essential grape in the best wines of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol where the variety can blossom beautifully. However, Merlot wine sometimes lacks character when the grapes does not come from low-yielding vines.

Petit Verdot is a red grape that needs a lot of heat to ripen. It produces tannic wines that age well. It is found in small quantities in the blend wines. In the great wines, Petit Verdot adds tannins, a profound color and spicy notes.

Semillon is the most common white variety in Bordeaux. It is used to make sweet wines thanks to its sensibility to noble rot. Usually matured in oak, the Semillon wines have a splendid golden robe, a great ageing potential and a good structure.

Sauvignon Blanc produces dry white wines with pronounced vegetal flavors and herbaceous notes. It grows on the sandy soils south of Graves and in AOC Entre-Deux-Mers.

Muscadelle is a white variety which reveals flowery notes and refreshing flavors of grape. It is found in small quantity in the dry and sweet blend wines.

Some of the most famous producers in Bordeaux

Château Montrose, Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Pape Clément, Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Château d'Yquem, Château Angelus, Château Ausone, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Figeac, Château Pavie, Château Pétrus, Château Lagrange and Domaine de Chevalier are among the most prestigious wine estates of Bordeaux.

Discover our wine selection from Bordeaux