Bordeaux
Bordeaux wines
With their elegant appearance and attractive labels, Bordeaux bottles offer a wide range of fruity flavours, from more acidic mineral notes to pungent or astringent tannins and velvety-textured ripe fruit. Bordeaux red wines are balanced, full-bodied or medium-bodied, with aromas of plum, blackcurrant and damp earth. White wines are equally explosive, whether dry, off-dry, full-bodied or mellow. Vintage and terroir play an important role in the quality of these wines, which have a total of 57 appellations. In this guide, we look at the great wines of Bordeaux and the region's main wineries
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Bordeaux wines presentation
The city of Bordeaux is often divided along its rivers. The left bank, on the Garonne side, is made up of large marshy plains. Wines here are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. The right bank, north of the Dordogne, produces well-known appellations such as Saint-Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac. The area between the two rivers is known as the Entre-Deux-Mers. TheBordeaux region is home to a plethora of world-famous cellars and châteaux. 80% of Bordeaux's vineyards produce red wines, with the remainder devoted to dry white wines, rosés, Bordeaux and sparkling wines. Some of Bordeaux's 120,000 hectares of vineyards probably date back to the Roman Empire. There are currently around sixty appellations, some of which are the world's most famous premium wines, while others are smaller, lesser-known châteaux
Overview of the main Bordeaux appellations
Bordeaux wine production is a benchmark for winemakers the world over, thanks to its famous 1855 classification, its many châteaux and the very high quality of its 'grands crus'. In fact, it was in the mid-1800s that the red wines of Bordeaux acquired their letters of nobility thanks to the official decree known as the 1855 classification. This classification identified the best vineyards in the region, ranking them from 1 to 5. These Grands Crus Classés of Bordeaux display the words "Grand Cru Classé" on the bottle label.
-Pauillac: with its 900 hectares of vines wedged between Saint-Julien to the south and Saint-Estèphe to the north, this jewel of the Médoc has managed to retain its unique style. This AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) red wine is distinguished by its full-bodied, unctuous character, with robust tannins that need time to develop. The Pauillac AOC boasts three of the 5 grands crus of 1855, including Mouton Rotschild, Lafitte Rotschild and Latour. A sumptuous wine to discover!
-Margaux: this 1100-hectare vineyard offers a wide variety of soils. It is the only Médoc AOC to bear the name of Premier Grand Cru Classé. The wine is appreciated for its fine, aromatic, harmonious style and interesting ageing potential. A unique product not to be missed by lovers of great wines.
-Saint-Julien: producer of the Médoc's most homogeneous red wines, this commune devotes 80% of its 775 ha to crus classés. The soils range from gravel to clay, ideal for producing exceptional, dense wines. Over time, the wines of Saint-Julien express a fine, unrivalled softness with a beautiful velvety amber colour. 11 Saint-Julien appellations have been awarded the title of Grand Cru Classé, including Château Leoville las Cases, Château Ducru Beaucaillou and Château Beychevelle, to name but a few.
-Saint-Emilion: this AOC red wine is full-bodied and structured on the palate, with firm tannins that become rounder with age and are enveloped in a suave nuance. Saint-Emilion is located in the Libournais region, on the right bank of the Dordogne, and produces the Saint-Emilion and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellations. Among the premier grands crus classés A are Château Ausone, Château Angélus, Château Cheval Blanc and Château Pavie.
-Saint-Estèphe: The Saint-Estèphe appellation accounts for 5 of the 62 crus classés in the Médoc. However, the variety of its styles, both robust and fine, combined with the freshness of the finish, make it a sure bet. Among the Second Crus Classés are Cos d'Estournel and Château Montrose.
-Pessac Léognan: the production area of this most famous Graves appellation is located just south of Bordeaux. Château Haut Brion is the leading producer of the 68 other châteaux in this appellation, which only came into being in 1987. It stands out for its age-old terroir, which combines quartz, jasper, flint and Lydian limestone. This gives rise to wines with aromas of fresh fruit, hints of ageing, leather and flesh on the palate. All this is accompanied by a supple attack and exceptional length on the palate.
-Pomerol: The AOC Pomerol vineyards are located near Libourne. The appellation has no official classification. It is, however, famous for its famous Petrus, one of the rarest and most expensive wines in the world. These full-bodied wines, with their supple, velvety texture and powerful tannins, reveal a rare bouquet and great finesse with age.
-Sauternes: The vineyards of this appellation are located on the left bank of the Garonne, south of Bordeaux. The vineyards are home to such titans as Château d'Yquem, which includes 17 crus classified as first and second growths, and Petrus. These are prestigious white wines with an opulent, highly aromatic style and a mellow, fat and harmonious body.
Main Bordeaux châteaux: our selection
-Petrus: Classified as an AOC (protected designation of origin) and benefiting from a highly reputed appellation in the Pomerol region, this estate belongs to the Moueix family. Its 11.4 hectares of vines produce one of the most enduring wines in Bordeaux. The best vintages reveal their full potential and true essence after three decades of cellaring. The wines from this château are also known for their high prices, due to their mythical status as the wine loved by John Kennedy and their limited availability on the market. These wines are distinguished by their unique style, aromatic complexity, richness of flavour and viscosity.
-Lafite Rothschild: This estate covers 107 hectares. It is one of only 4 châteaux to hold the rare and prestigious distinction of Premier Cru in the 1855 classification. Its highly prized wines are also sold at exorbitant prices on the world market. The wines of this château are appreciated for the complexity of their aromas and their elegance.
-Mouton Rotschild: this château owned by the Rotschild family in the heart of the Médoc was awarded second-growth status in the original 1855 classification. It is one of the few estates to have undergone a classification change, becoming a Premier Cru in 1973. Its 83 ha of vineyards produce flamboyant wines with exotic personality, opulent texture and excellent ageing potential. These are Bordeaux's finest wines, offering the best drinking conditions after 2 to 6 decades.
-Cheval Blanc: this is another not-to-be-missed estate that has been at the pinnacle of the Saint-Émilion appellation since its classification as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012. The vineyards cover 39 hectares. They produce wines that are accessible at a young age, yet have a long life expectancy of up to 90 years. The secret of this château's wines lies in their complex, powerful flavours, without heaviness, and their supple, velvety texture.
-Angélus: The wines from this château are also among the most prestigious. Classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A in the 1855 classification, this 27-hectare vineyard produces highly expressive, well-structured, refined, vibrant wines that age well. These wines can also be enjoyed young, while renewing themselves with age.
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