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.
jamessuckling.com, 98 points: So much floral and dark-fruit character with almonds and walnut shell. Full body and ultra-fine tannins. Powerful. Classic style with a harmony and energy. Goes on for minutes. A superb wine with great fruit. Real...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Lots of mineral, crushed stone, iodine and graphite with blackcurrants and blackberries that follow through to a medium body with ultra fine tannins that are ever so polished and give length and energy to the wine...
jamessuckling.com, 98 points: A stunning wine for this vintage although it’s still a bit shy on the nose (more spice than fruit showing than now). There’s wet earth, too, but on the palate it’s bursting with ripe yet subtle flavors. Very long and...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: (JS 98-99 points) This is integrated, with superb density and beauty, offering blackcurrant, mineral and some bark. Full-bodied, yet so polished and refined. Crushed stone. Lots of expression and texture to this wine...
jebdunnuck.com, 91 points: One of the best values in Bordeaux out there, the 2016 Arbalest comes from a mix of the Right and Left Banks and is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Ripe, medium to...
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: (93–95 points) Barrel Sample. This is a perfumed wine, likely thanks to a dollop (7%) of Cabernet Franc. It has ripe fruit characters, pleasant richness and a firm structure. ROGER VOSS
Wine Enthusiast, 100 points: A magnificently solid wine initially severe. At this young stage the tannins dominate in a wine that also reveals a full fruit salad bowl of black fruits. Very dense concentrated this is a wine that's even better than the...
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: This is one of the great successes of this vintage. It is generous and rich while also solid and structured. The combination of the essence of black currant and the elegant tannic structure are superb. This is a wine for...
Neal Martin's Wine Journal, 93 points: Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Haut-Bergey 2010 has a very concentrated bouquet with dense blackberry, briary, crushed stone and tobacco on the nose that unfolds in the glass. The palate is...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Impressive richness and clarity of red and dark berries. Lightly spiced-pastry aromas, too. The palate has a very crisp, polished and groomed tannin texture, as well as super fresh flavors that carry long. Great wine. Try...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: (JS 98-99 points) Blackcurrants, orange peel, flowers and tar with hints of graphite. Full-bodied with a creamy texture of exquisitely polished tannins. It goes on and on. Intense flavors at the end, too, with lead pencil...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 94 points: Cigar box, earth, cedar wood, spice and fresh red fruits really sing out here. Full-bodied and loaded with ripe, red pit fruits, the wine has length and character. Age this for 5-7 years and drink it over the next 2...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: Beginning to open magnificently, the still dense purple-colored 2000 reveals a blossoming bouquet of blackberries, cassis, graphite and pen ink. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that have resolved themselves beautifully...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: (95-97 points) Possibly one of the best buys out there, the 2020 Château Laroque comes from a cooler, clay and limestone terroir on the eastern side of the appellation, and this is exactly what you wanted in this vintage...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: 97+ Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte charges out of the gate with bold expressions of warm redcurrants, baked blackberries and crème de cassis with hints of spice cake, dried roses...
jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: (JD 97-99 points) Ranking with the top wines of the vintage, the dense purple-hued 2020 Château Pape Clement offers a sensational bouquet of pure crème de cassis interwoven with notes of liquid violets and classy oak...
Decanter, 96 points: Displaying the more highly-charged, well ripened character that you would expect from a 2015, this is rich and silky, showing incredible texture. It combines plump black fruits with the most gorgeous liquorice and dark...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: Delivers fabulous aromas of crushed red fruits, with leather, tar, tobacco and mint. Full-bodied, offering supersoft and silky tannins, as well as a beautiful polish. Open and luscious, with amazing richness of fruit and...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: Pure perfection in a glass and unquestionably one of the great vintages for this cuvée, the 2015 Pavie is a blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 80% new French...
Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: A warm wine rich in tannins and with succulent berry fruits, this is both powerful and elegant. Its density doesn't detract from the fruitiness that shines out of the wine and balances with the structured aging potential...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: (96+ points) Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Canon features wonderfully expressive notes of dried mulberries, stewed plums and baked black cherries with hints of mocha, bay leaves and fallen leaves. Full-bodied, opulent and...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte delivers notes of baked plums, boysenberries and dried mulberries with an undercurrent of cigar box, new leather and bouquet garni. Full-bodied, the palate has firm, grainy...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 94 points: (92–94 points) This is probably the best vintage of Meyney produced to date. It’s certainly the best wine I’ve tasted from the estate. (And I have tasted wines dating back to 1929!) Vibrant in color with strong aroma of...
Wine Spectator, 97 points: An extremely impressive, yet slightly hard wine; still closed, but could be as great as the 1952. Dark ruby in color and very aromatic, with a rich cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with full tannins and plenty of fruit, yet...
Decanter, 94 points: Lighter framed than Leoville, and while this is delicious, it is not quite at the level of its sibling. Not that anyone is going to complain, and this will be ready to crack out sooner. Opens up to show bramble berry...
jamessuckling.com, 98 points: A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: The aromas are very decadent with white truffle, dark berries and wet earth. Dense raspberries. Full-bodied, it grows on the palate with fantastic chewy tannins that are polished and intense. Like a beautifully formed...
jamessuckling.com, 98 points: (97-98 points) Solid red with blackberry, blueberry, chocolate and spice. Lots of hazelnut, too. It’s full-bodied with chewy, polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Best of the trilogy vintages?
Vinous, 98 points: (VN 96-98 points) The 2020 Pichon Baron is utterly breathtaking, and also one of the very best young vintages I have tasted here. An exotic mélange of red cherry, mint, rose petal and blood orange comes alive in the...
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