The red wines of bordeaux are arguably the world's most famous. After all,
some of Bordeaux's legendary families have been making wines on the same
property for more than 500 years. Of course this fame and history often mean
astronomical prices. Most of Bordeaux's First Growths cost $300 -$500 per
bottle and some like Le Pin cost $900, and that's when you can even find a
source to sell you the wine.
These ridiculous prices mean that wines like Lafite and Petrus are out of
reach of most wine drinkers. But don't get discouraged, the savvy wine buyer
can still find some wonderful Bordeaux wines that don't require a home equity
line of credit to purchase. In most vintages, quantity is high so there are
normally plenty of good or very good wines available.
Five grape varietals are typically blended to make the great wines of Bordeaux
in amounts that vary depending on desired style, weather, appelation and
history. These varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc,
Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Bordeaux is located on the western edge of France, running from the Atlantic
Ocean and following the Gironde River. This river and its tributary, the
Dordogne, are what seperate the two primary regions of Bordeaux. The Left
Bank includes the appellations of Medoc and Graves where Cabernet
Sauvignon is usually the dominant grape. The Right Bank includes
St.-Emilion and Pomerol where Merlot is dominant.
Smaller appellations exist within each of the primary growing regions. Medoc
actually consists of a number of districts including St.-Estephe, Pauillac,
St.-Julien and Margaux, each with its own reputation and following.
In general, Bordeaux's red wines are highly tannic, resulting in austere and
challenging wines when young. These are wines that need significant time in
the cellar to mellow and reach maturity. Of course the tannins do make these
extremely long-lived wines. Nearly all Bordeauxs will easily last 15-20 years
and top growths are known to peak 50-75 years after release.
White Bordeaux
Not as widely recognized as the local red wines, some regions of Bordeaux
do produce terrific white wines including the famous dessert wines of
Sauternes and Barsac. While these dessert wines often have
shock-producing price tags, the white table wines of Graves are reasonably
priced. Typically blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, these wines are a
nice pair with food.
Back to Wine Regions.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
