About the Bordeaux wine region
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.
Another white that's aged nicely, the 2009 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc sports a medium gold hue as well as a spicy, complex nose of caramelized peach, orange blossom, honeyed toast, and a kiss of nuttiness...
(WE 96–98 points) This classic white wine reveals impressive potential as it unfolds. Along with its enveloping white fruits and crisp citrus it also has a wrought texture that will push it forward for the long term. -...
The ripe layer of Sémillon in this wine gives richness, a creamed-apple character and plenty of aging potential. The second white wine of Domaine de Chevalier, it is ripe, wood aged and generous in fruitiness. Drink the...
The 2019 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc is terrific, offering a rich, concentrated, yet bright and racy style that's going to age beautifully. Ripe lemon, honeyed grapefruit, chalky mineral, and some floral notes all...
(95-97 points) Barrel Sample. Famed for its white wine, this estate has produced another impressive vintage. It has great poise between lusciousness and a tight mineral texture, giving balance and longevity. Nutmeg...
Beautiful aromas of lime curd, dried pear, grilled white peach and flint on the nose. So exotic on the nose. Some cream and honey, too. It’s medium-bodied with bright, tangy acidity. Creamy and focused with lingering...
(WA 91-93 points) The Ferran 2017 Blanc is a little closed on the nose, with delicate yuzu, lemon zest and green mango notes plus grapefruit and crushed rocks hints. The medium-bodied palate has a lovely saline character...
Smells like wild peaches, really floral and perfumed, parma violets, you might say there's Viognier in it from the nose. The palate is weighty, you get a more dense texture than some of the others, it really makes an...
I loved the 2019 Domaine De Chevalier Blanc, which has the crisp, racy, yet concentrated style of the estate that few others can achieve. Gorgeous white peach, mandarin orange, honeyed minerality, and a kiss of toast all...
A tightly coiled rich wine that has great acidity as well as a lively structure. Touched by spice from wood aging as well as intense citrus, it is fruity, firm and strongly textured. Drink this impressive still-young wine...
(JS 98-99 points) This is always an impressive white, with a lengthy, layered and compact palate. Lots of dried lemon, clove, fennel, green-apple and cedar. Flint and toast, too. Medium to full body. Very long. 70%...
Rocking stuff, the truly brilliant 2012 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc offers fabulous notes of caramelized citrus, lemon curd and honeysuckle in a laser-focused, tight, gorgeously textured package. This beauty represents a...
Green papaya, pomelo, cream, flint and hints of wax on the nose. It’s full-bodied with bright acidity and a creamy texture. Concentrated and refined with seamless layers, leading to a long, mineral finish. The phenols...
(JS 96-97 points) Serious and refined with dried lemon, pineapple, green apple, almond, gun flint and some aniseed. Bright and tight. Medium to full body. Fresh and alluring. Wait and see.
Aromas of grilled pineapple, clove, lemon peel, lime pith and green mango. White pepper, crushed stones and some cedar, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with bright acidity. Layered and very long. Serious white. Needs time...
This is a phenomenal white with super density and energy. Full body, yet incredibly agile and intense. Fabulous character of salt, mineral and shells. Hints of tannin too. Dried white peach. Pear and apple. Super subtle...
Showing just a hint of color for its age, the wine offers its honeysuckle, white peach, vanilla and grapefruit rind. The best of both worlds, combining all the sweetness of ripe, juicy, citrus fruits and freshness from...
This is very linear and minerally with subtle mango and apple, as well as some pineapple and bitter lemon. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a creamy texture and great tension and energy. Heather and lavender undertones...
A fruity, ripe wine with lemon and pineapple flavors alongside a fine tang of citrus. It’s beautifully marked with wood aging to give a rounded, rich mouthfeel. It also has the texture to mellow into a more nuanced wine...
This is so solid and structured. It’s bigger and better than most 2014s! What a wine. Full body with flavors of stones, dried apples and pears. Goes on for minutes. Yes man!
(JS 97-98 points) Lots of white peach and red apple with crushed-stone and pine-needle undertones. Full-bodied, yet compact and linear with beautiful toffee, light caramel, praline and nougat character to the fruit...
(95-96 points) This is full-bodied with layers of fruit. Ripe and flavorful. Lots going on with a fleshy feel. No malolactic this year. Sweet peach, honeysuckle and citrus. Contrastive. 52% sauvignon blanc, 14% sauvignon...
Good acids along with hints of earth, buttered citrus and exotic melons are found in this cuvee. - Robert Parker
Wonderfully aromatic, this sure-to-be legendary wine offers richness, ripeness, and pure yellow fruits, peaches and apricots, all alongside a structured strain of chalky minerality. It is a wine for long aging, the wood...
This has a complex nose of dried apple, green mango, grapefruit zest, dried honeysuckle and crushed almonds. It’s full-bodied with bright acidity and a dense, phenolic texture. Vivid and layered with fantastic precision...
Plenty of green-apple and pear aromas with vanilla and cream undertones. Kiwi, too. Medium to full body with oily character and a fruity undertone. Hints of vanilla and crushed stone. Flavorful finish. Second wine of...
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