Bordeaux Wines

Bordeaux is a terroir known throughout the world as the symbol of quality wines. A well-deserved reputation, because the wines coming from this part of France stand out from the others both in terms of quality and complexity. However, with the diversity of Bordeaux wines available on the market, it is easy to get lost if you are not a wine connoisseur.

Presentation of Bordeaux wines

Unless you are a wine lover, it is essential that you have an idea of the different types of Bordeaux wines.

The red wines of Bordeaux

The red wines of Bordeaux are highly prized and enjoy a good reputation. These are full-bodied to medium-bodied beverages with earthy notes of wet gravel and aromas of plums and black currants.

When tasted, they convey fruity and mineral aromas that reflect delicious and pungent tannins. Depending on the wine-growing area and the vintage, Bordeaux red wines can be sweet or tart.

White wines of Bordeaux

The region also offers a wide variety of white wines. For those who do not know, these beverages come from a mixture of Semillon and Sauvignon. These blends are accompanied in some cases by a touch of muscadelle. If you are interested in these grape varieties, you will notice that there are two main categories of Bordeaux white wines. These include dry white wines and sweet white wines.

Dry white wines

Dry white wines are also divided into two categories, based on several characteristics.

• Fruity and lively white wines

Very appreciated by wine lovers, these grape varieties are matured and vinified in tanks. They are distinguished from other beverages by their impetuous fruity aromas of acacia or citrus with a surprising freshness in the mouth. These wines are recommended to be drunk young. Ideal for the beginning of a meal, they should be enjoyed well chilled (at a temperature between 7 and 9 °C).

• Generous and structured white wines

Aged in barrels, these wines are known for their great power and aromatic complexity. Unlike the fruity and lively white wines, they can be kept for 10 years. So you don’t have to taste them young. With their great abundance in the mouth, these grape varieties can be consumed throughout a meal if served chilled (9 to 12 °C).

Sweet white wines

Like dry white wines, they come in two main families.

• Fruity and mellow white wines

To obtain these varieties, the winemakers harvest the grapes once they are very ripe. Beware, their maturation is below that used for the maturation of sweet wines. This allows for refreshing, moderately sweet wines with a wonderful roundness.

Pour profiter de toutes les saveurs des cépages blancs fruités et moelleux, vous devez les consommer jeunes (entre 1 à 5 ans). They are perfect with exotic starters, aperitifs and desserts, but these wines should be served chilled (8 to 10°C).

• The intense white sparkling wines

These wines are produced with late harvested grapes and hand picked. The result is a wine with notes of dried fruits, citrus, honey, spices and candied fruits. They go perfectly with foie gras.

The difference between left bank Bordeaux wines and right bank Bordeaux wines

Bordeaux is a wine region crossed by two rivers. Although the terroir is divided into three parts, the entirety of the Bordeaux vineyards can be found on either side of the banks. Apart from the separation, it is important to know that depending on the bank, the elements that go into making wine differ.

The wines of Bordeaux left bank

Contrary to the wines of the right bank, those of the left bank come from the assembly of several type of vines for a high result in savour. Generally, the grape varieties used here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

There are also occasional touches of Carmenere. In terms of aromas and flavors, the wines of the Left Bank give off notes of vanilla, licorice, black currant, coffee, spice and black cherry. These are sufficiently firm and powerful wines. They all reveal their potential after years of storage.

The wines of Bordeaux right bank

Bordeaux wines from the right bank are mainly made with the Merlot grape variety. However, they may also be a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Although they are very pronounced in the mouth, the wines of the right bank are known for their fruit flavors such as blackberry, black currant, cherry…

You will also detect floral notes such as anise, violet, honeysuckle, etc. The scent of vanilla and chocolate are also present. All these particularities allow us to have wines with low acidity, very round, soft and velvety.

This differentiates them from the firmer Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon beverages. After a few years of conservation, the taste of these beverages becomes more complex, which embellishes their tasting.

The different grape varieties in Bordeaux

Depending on their origin, Bordeaux wines are either made from a single grape variety or a mixture of grape varieties. Nevertheless, regardless of the choice you make, the vine varieties most commonly used to make these wines are: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

There are also semillons, sauvignon gris and blanc, ugni-blanc, muscadelle and many more. Also, it should be noted that for the conception of the wines, some grape varieties are considered as minority.

The great wines of Bordeaux

There is a wide range of Bordeaux wines on the market. Although they are all of good quality, some stand out because of their particular taste and composition. They are known as the great wines of Bordeaux.

In this category, you will find wines from :

• Château Latour,
• Château Margaux,
• Château Ausone,
• Château Mouton Rothschild.

There are also wines from Château Haut Brion, Château Cheval Blanc, etc.

The best vintages of Bordeaux

Bordeaux has for many years been the source of gracious vintages because of its excellent red and white wines. However, the red wines of Bordeaux have been very successful with smooth and rich beverages in the years 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2019. The year 2005 was also the year of wines with a great capacity for aging.

As far as white wines are concerned, the best vintages of Bordeaux are those of 2007 and 2010 for dry white wines. It is only in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2018 that sweet white wines have been honored. It is necessary to keep in mind that this ranking only takes into account the productions of the last years. We also offer Burgundy wines.