With more than 7,000 chateaux, France’s Bordeaux region is the most important wine producing region in the world. As well as being the basis for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot-based wines everywhere, Bordeaux wines are acknowledged to be among the world’s best reds—according to experts and amateurs alike.
The wine region of Bordeaux is comprised of many smaller areas and encompasses both banks of the Gironde estuary in southwest France, as well as the land bordering the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, which split off from the Gironde in the southern Medoc area. Generally, Bordeaux's best red wines are from seven major (and well-known) appellations: Pauillac, Saint-Estephe, Saint-Julien, and Margaux in the greater Medoc region, Graves to the south of the city of Bordeaux—in the region’s center, and Saint-Emilion and Pomerol toward the east. The large Graves region, as well as being the birthplace of claret, is home to many of the best dry whites. Premium sweet wines are made in Sauternes and Barsac, which are also within the Graves appellation but toward the south.
In understanding the multitude of Bordeaux wines, experts tend to talk about the right and left banks of the Gironde River. Generally, red wines from the river’s left bank, especially from Bordeaux’s Medoc region, are based on Cabernet Sauvignon, mixed with varying amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc and, occasionally, a spot of Petit Verdot and Malbec. These reds are known to be firm and dry, with a substantial tannic spine, and are frequently austere in their youth. They are also among the world’s longest-lived. The Graves’ gravel and sand soil content contribute to more texture early and roasted accents of hot stones, smoke and tobacco.
The softer Merlot grape is the foundation for right bank wines, mostly to the town of Libourne’s eastern side. These wines are fleshier in general than wines from the left bank and are more pliant. They are also accessible at an earlier age—though the best of them can improve in bottle for decades.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Pale gold colored, the 1998 d'Yquem features a flamboyant, rock-star nose of allspice, candied ginger, honeycomb and crème brûlée with a core of preserved lemons, mandarin peel and musk perfume plus a waft of potpourri...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi...
Vinous, 94 points: The 2015 de Malle has a perfumed bouquet with clear honey, acacia and orange blossom aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is well balanced with clean, pure honeyed fruit laced with ginger and orange rind...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: This is a great Yquem, delivering thrilling purity and intensity. The nose offers intense aromas of fresh and dried apricot and peach pastry, as well as freshly baked creme brulee, candied and fresh orange and kumquat...
Neal Martin's Wine Journal, 90 points: The de Fargues ’95 has a ripe, generous, quintessential de Fargues nose with tangy marmalade, Seville orange and quince jus, though it does not quite have the razor-sharp delineation of a top-flight wine from the estate...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 96 points: It take little effort to find the ripe, sweet, tropical fruits, apricot, candied orange peel, pineapple, vanilla, floral and honey notes in the nose. The wine is sweet, with luscious textures, freshness but not as much...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 97 points: Spicy, lush, tropical, fresh, sweet, butter fruit, with a beautiful blend of honey, vanilla, apricots, pineapple, white peach and tangerine. The freshness here, really allows the wine to pop, while letting your palate...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 90 points: Looking and tasting much older than its true age, the wine has taken on more of a copper coloring. Losing some of its sweetness, you find more creme brulee, orange and caramel, than sweet, tropical, honeyed fruits. This...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: The 2018 d'Yquem is all lime cordial, grapefruit oil and mandarin peel to begin. With a little coaxing, the fireworks really begin, letting off a whole array of honeysuckle, candied ginger, dried pineapple, lemon...
Decanter, 92 points: Restrained nose; just a hint of guava and mango. Full and rich palate with bright acidity to balance fleshy stone fruit. Creamy toffee notes combine with a refreshing hint of reduction. Drinking well now. Organic. (Drink...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: The pale lemon colored 2016 de Malle rocks up with flamboyant musk melon, pear tart, peach cobbler and ginger ale scents plus a touch of white pepper. The palate is packed with stone fruit and spice layers with a creamy...
Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: (95–97) Barrel Sample. This wine's ripeness is intense, just hinting at an impressive future. The dry core of botrytis balances the honey and the spice, along with fresh lemon curd. This is likely to be a very fine wine.
Wine Spectator, 96 points: Beautiful apple vanilla and honey aromas with just the right amount of new wood. Full-bodied medium sweet with lots of pretty pineapple honey and new wood. Long and refined. A beautifully silky and balanced Sauternes...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points: Everything you want in a sweet wine is here. The vibrant acidity, layers of ripe and overripe tropical fruit, ladles of honey and freshness in the finish, which just keeps on going.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: 96+ Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2016 Climens is a little youthfully mute, revealing notions of ripe peaches, mango and musk melon with touches of cedar chest, orange blossoms, candied ginger and baking bread. Bursting...
Vinous, 92 points: (92+ points) The 2001 Château de Rayne Vigneau has quite an intense nose of orange cordial, pineapple, saffron and almond scents, not as delineated as its its peers, yet nicely focused. The palate is well balanced with a...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: A step up over the Carmes de Rieussec, the beautiful 2016 Château Rieussec has remarkable purity and freshness while still packing beautiful depth of fruit. Honeyed peach, apricot, flower oil, and even a hint of wet stone...
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