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: A soft and very silky Monbousquet with wonderfully caressing texture. Full body. Delicious crushed cherries and berries. Beautiful length, too. Hard not to drink now. Better after 2024.
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
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Very ripe blueberries here, married to delicate, smoky-oak and baking-spice character. Concentrated and succulent with a wonderful, mineral freshness at the long, energetic finish. A very flexible food-wine. Drink or hold.
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: A very rich and ripe, dark-fruited wine with dark, stony aromas. Rich fruit on the palate, offering dark plum and chocolate flavors and firm, long, assertive tannins. A blend of 72 per cent merlot and 28 per cent cabernet...
Vinous, 94 points: The 2016 Roc de Cambes is powerful, tightly wound and closed in on itself. That should not be an issue, but readers should be prepared to be patient. Iron, smoke, tobacco, cedar, menthol and licorice all add aromatic...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 99 points: This is a strong candidate for the best wine yet produced by the Cathiard family at Smith Haut Lafitte. The inky color lets you know this is going to be packed and stacked with layers of ripe fruit. But there is more...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: The 2016 Pavie a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Very deep purple-black in color, it needs a little coaxing to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal a fragrant perfume of violets, chocolate-covered cherries...
Vinous, 96 points: The 2016 Canon La Gaffelière is just as striking from bottle as it was from barrel. Bright, intensely aromatic and precise, the 2016 has it all. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and rose petal all race through...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 94 points: With truffle notes to kick this off, the wine is plush, polished, pure and fresh. Medium/full bodied with sweet, fresh, dark cherries at its core, and soft, elegant textures on the palate, the wine needs a few years in...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: Incredibly perfumed aromas of roses and violets, as well as blue fruit and lavender. Full-bodied and powerful, yet so full of finesse and vibrance. The height of elegance! Such depth of chalk and dark berries. It goes on...
Wine Spectator, 92 points: Cedar and tobacco aromas lead off, followed by gently steeped red currant and plum fruit flavors. An elegant mix of herb, sanguine and iron notes chimes on the very silky, restrained finish. A wine of subtle charm and...
Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: This nearly 200-acre estate lies in the south of the Margaux appellation. The wine is another great success in a series of superb years. It is rich but the structure and finely textured fruit give it style and longevity...
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: I was able to taste the 2016 Château Soutard-Cadet on three different occasions and it showed consistently, always rating 95 or 96 points. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, made from 57% of the total...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Fragrant and spicy, ripe and juicy with a ton of crushed berry character. The generous, supple tannins nicely support the full body and long, silky finish. Drink or hold.
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: This second wine of Château Haut-Bailly offers a softer reflection of the power of the top wine. Generous tannins are already integrating with the rich fruits that come through strongly. The juicy blackberry character to...
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