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, 96 points: (JS95-96 points) Extremely firm and silky. Dark berry, violet, salt and mineral. Full body. Energy, vibrant and verve. Layered and compressed. Best ever here. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc.
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS94-95 points) This really is fantastic with so much ripe fruit and ripe tannins. Exquisite purity and beauty. 55% merlot, 38% cabernet sauvignon and 7% petit verdot.
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: (WE96-98 points) This is an opulent wine, very generous with forward blackberry fruits. Behind an accessible exterior, there is a dark core of tannins, as well as a wonderful, rounded structure. There could be more...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: (WA95-97 points) The 2015 Domaine de Chevalier is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot picked from 23 September until 15 October at just 35 hl/ha, matured in 35% new oak. It has a...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 100 points: (JL98-100 points) It is the sensuous texture that really makes this wine rock! The feel is pure silk and velvet and the impressive fragrance captivates with its floral, smoke, boysenberry, cassis and earthy aromatics...
100 points: (JL98-100 points) With a beautiful, inky hue, this wine explodes with smoke, blackberry liqueur, dark chocolate, truffle and cherry blossoms on the nose. Liquid silk does not begin to describe the texture, but it's close...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: (WA94-96 points) The 2015 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, matured in 75% new oak and was picked between September 18 until October 4 (although the "real" picking commenced...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: (JS96-97 points) Here is a wine with great pedigree near Ausone. Full body, yet fast and agile. The finish lasts for minutes. You see the chalky soil in the wine.
Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: (WE94-96 points) This wine is sumptuous, ripe and generously fruity. It has a black core of dry plum skin and spice. The richness is topped by acidity, forming a contrast with the tannic core.
jamessuckling.com, 100 points: The depth of fruit and length to this is spectacular with blackberry, wet earth, dark bitter chocolate and blueberry character. It’s full and powerful and absolutely seamless. Perhaps the greatest wine ever made here. 93%...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS94-95 points) A wonderful red with beautiful precision and depth. Full body, texture of fine silk. Blackberry and violet character. Hints of walnuts. So persistent. A much more refined style for Haut-Brission. First...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: (WA96-98 points) The 2015 Pichon Baron is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot picked between 18 September until 9 October. Apparently Christian Seely made use of four additional 80-hectolitre wooden vats...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: (WA96-98 points) The 2015 Rauzan-Segla is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc cropped at 40 hl/ha between 10 September with the young Merlot vines and finishing with the...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: (JS98-99 points) I don’t know what to say here other than it’s better than any BDL I drank since 1989 including the 1990. There’s a transparency and beauty like a rainbow. Full body, extremely long and bright. Super fine...
Wine Spectator, 97 points: (WS94-97 points) Dark and winey, with currant paste and fig notes backed by slightly briary grip and an ample dose of toast. There’s good energy here and nice vivacity, despite the darker profile today, and this should...
Showing 15 of 370 wines
Dear Customer We are having problems processing your request. Please contact our sales office between 9 AM and 5 PM (PST) for further assistance at 1.888.859.4637.
Competitive Prices. Especially good with Bordeaux futures. Email offers always tempting.
-Aaron C., March 2017